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By : S. Muralidharan, Head, Project Planning/Strategy, Knowledge Foundation
Activity:  16 comments  391 views  last activity : 08 03 2012 15:12:45 +0000
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PREPARATION FOR SCIENCE 

Richard Bartlett Gregg (1885-1974) was an American social philosopher said to be "the first American to develop a substantial theory of nonviolent resistance" and an influence on the thinking of Martin Luther King, Jr., Aldous Huxley, civil-rights theorist Bayard Rustin, and pacifist and socialist reformer Jessie Wallace Hughan.  

Gregg travelled to India in the 1920s to learn about the culture and to seek out Gandhi ji. His publications include Gandhiji's Satyagraha or non-violent resistance, published in 1930, and The Power of Non-Violence, from 1934.  For two years after arrival in India, Gregg taught activity based science to children in Stoke's School at Kotgarh, Himachal Pradesh.  Based on his real life experiences with Indian children, he wrote a book titled "PREPARATION FOR SCIENCE" in 1928.  This book was first printed by Navjivan Prakashan from Ahmedabad.  This remains the most pioneering treatise on how science should be taught to children in Indian Schools.  Gregg wrote:

"The apparatus required is exceedingly simple and inexpensive, and almost all of it is familiar to village children.  Most of it can be made by village carpenters, potters or blacksmiths.  The children must not get an idea that science is machinery or strange technology.  The great pioneers of science did their work with very simple apparatus.  It is possible, therefore, to follow their footsteps and learn to do scientific thinking without much expensive or elaborate apparatus.  After all, the student's mind is the most expensive piece of apparatus involved."  He further commented:

"I do not want Indian children in villages to get the idea that science is only a school affair or only relates to shiny brass and glass devices and paraphernalia.  I believe they can learn to think more clearly and to acquire a scientific attitude without all the expensive and complicated apparatus used in western laboratories, or at least with extremely little of it."

 Top Comment : MS_Pi    | 08 02 2011 04:19:21 +0000
Excellent article. It reminds me of my child hood days, when my father used to teach us Astronomy by using a hand made globe like article. Later my elder brother prepared a replica and presented in the College Science Exhibition and won a prize. My mother used to show me stars and teach me about Saptarshi Mandal etc. It is possible to teach science through simple, hand made apparatus !!
 
16 comments on "How to foster Scientific Thinking in Village Children? "
  Commented by  N.Sreenivasa Rao, Construction Management, Central Public Works Department    | 08 03 2012 15:12:44 +0000
As Abdul Kalam said " Ignite the minds of young children" They will do miracles. Give a thought by providing simple possible articles to extract the creativity by burning their brains to make the missiles.  THEY ARE FUTURE OF INDIA.-- 
N.S.Rao,CPWD
  Commented by  puneet kaushik, Operations Manager,Financial Analysis,hedging, NBFC    | 08 27 2011 10:59:27 +0000
it is good to share, thnks neelima
  Commented by  pragati parihar, MBA/PGDM student, banasthali university,jaipur    | 08 06 2011 13:57:47 +0000
Rating : +1 
nice past sir, thanks for referral.
  Commented by  manish kumar, SEO | Web-cms Developer | FreeTips-- shoot me an email | Mobile SEO, SEO | Web-cms Developer | Do more than Just !    | 08 05 2011 18:38:50 +0000
nice one sir :)
  Commented by  Murali Murugesan, Vice President - SMILE    | 08 03 2011 21:34:06 +0000
Great one. This reminds me that we have to focus more on AT ( Adaptable technology and not advanced technology) at school level. 
  Commented by  Mathew Cherian, Research Associate/Analyst, Western Michigan University    | 08 03 2011 18:10:19 +0000
"Only in a healthy body a health mind exists". So this again is a matter of science to resolve in India where again we need to seek the "conservation laws". Energy can neither be created or destroyed it can only be changed from one form to the other. So if one need to work to learn science there need be enough energy sources available in the individual. Villagers are under endowed asking them to learn science forgetting the physics behind work is like trying to climb a 'greased pole".
  Commented by  nagesh rao, Freelancer, Freelancer    | 08 03 2011 07:09:25 +0000
Yes it is very interesting Neelima.Usage of simple tools & devises at the basic level  will help children to grasp & develop the Scientific way of thinking and attitude amongst village children.  
  Commented by  neha singh, Content Editor, Avestia Corp    | 08 02 2011 14:47:34 +0000
This is uncharacterisitc of their true natures, and they will not be able to adjust to it. Scinetific thinking is good, but science itself is a man made concept. If it doesn't come with a little help, it will never come by force. 
  Commented by  Rathin Deb, Freelance Retail Consultant    | 08 02 2011 12:49:09 +0000
Neelima thanks for referral. I have already given my point of view and also agree with you an awesome article. 
  Commented by  Manoj Pande, Corporate Advisor    | 08 02 2011 11:36:43 +0000
Rating : +1 
Excellent piece of information.
Neelima, thanks for referal.
  Commented by  Neelima Pandey, PR & Media Relations Manager, Group M    | 08 02 2011 10:56:15 +0000
Rating : +3 
Awesome . Thoughtful and wonderful . Simple ways to nurture great minds.
  Commented by  Mohammad Bakhsh, Project Leader/Managing Consultant, Freelancer    | 08 02 2011 10:23:02 +0000
Rating : +1 
An outstanding piece of information.I believe that scientific temper works when one is in the field of activities.Just a way out side,why most of scientists are from western countries,The reason being their hostile climates and resolve to fight back.There is no dearth of talents in rural INDIA who rediscover,recreate and put it in practice.The harnessing such talent is a challenging job because of inaccessibility of information technology,use of computers and visuals and of course adaptability of cloud computing.
  Commented by  Srinivas suravajhala, Secretary to the high ranking police officer, Law Enforcing Agency    | 08 02 2011 06:59:12 +0000
Rating : +1 
Wow, Great contribution.  We are fortunate enough to have Mr. Muralidharan as our friend on this toostep.  What a beautiful piece of work.  I  salute you Mr. Muralidharan.  Private schools are there for profit making. You hardly find a qualified teacher there.  In Govt. schools, teachers hardly pay interest in teaching.  They all busy engaged in village politics.  Reservations in education sector is the most killing factor.  People belonging to reserved category without having formal training are being recruited in Govt. schools.  This is the fate of school education in India.  We hardly find a committed teacher in these schools.  I am sorry to sounding negative here. 
  Commented by  Virag Shah, Office coordinator, Prince pharma pvt. ltd.    | 08 02 2011 05:59:19 +0000
Rating : +1 
Yes, sir, we have to need the change of learning process and make it more practical . so child can enjoy learning with easy. There are so many ways we can develop to avoid the stress of children. Children are facing lot of stress today..But if we can develop such variety ways, children are getting very good benefit.

Thanks sir for referal
  Commented by  Rathin Deb, Freelance Retail Consultant    | 08 02 2011 04:54:47 +0000
Rating : +1 
Muralidharan great article and what a foresight. it shows every difficult things can be made a child's play with proper guidance.
  Commented by  MS_Pi, Top Management, Confidential    | 08 02 2011 04:19:21 +0000
Rating : +1 
Excellent article. It reminds me of my child hood days, when my father used to teach us Astronomy by using a hand made globe like article. Later my elder brother prepared a replica and presented in the College Science Exhibition and won a prize. My mother used to show me stars and teach me about Saptarshi Mandal etc. It is possible to teach science through simple, hand made apparatus !!
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