ON EDUCATION

The Mother

 

Contents

 

PRE CONTENT

 

Part One:

 

Articles

 

Articles

The Science of Living

Education

Physical Education

Vital Education

Mental Education

Psychic Education and Spiritual Education

An International University Centre

The Four Austerities and the Four Liberations

To the Students, Young and Old

Foresight

Transformation

The Fear of Death and the Four Methods of  Conquering It

A Dream

Helping Humanity

The Problem of Woman

 

 

Part Two:

 

Messages, Letters and Conversations

 

I

 

SRI AUROBINDO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF EDUCATION

 

Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education

Messages

Aims

Students

Study

Reading

Conduct

Holidays

Studies Elsewhere

Teachers

Teaching

Discipline

Homework

Tests

Curriculum

Languages

Facsimilies of the Mother's Handwriting in Various Language

Arts

Other Subject

National Education

 

II

 

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

 

Sri Aurobindo Ashram Department of Physical Education

Youth

Concentration and Dispersion

Our Flag and Our Cover

Energy Inexhaustible

Correct Judgment

The Olympic Rings

The Championship Badge

Tournaments

Replies to Prayers of the Physical Education Groups

Messages for Competitions

Messages for the Annual Demonstration of Physical Culture

General Messages and Letters

To Women about Their Body

 

III

 

THE NEW AGE ASSOCIATION

 

The New Age Association

 

IV

 

A GLIMPSE OF THE MOTHER'S WORK IN THE SCHOOL

 

French in the Ashram and the School

The Organisation of Work in French Class

Teaching French to Indian Teachers Who Teach in French

Teaching French to Students

The "Bibliotheque Choisie"

Mother's Action in a Class of Children Aged ten to Eleven

Mother's Action in a Class  of Children Aged Seven to Nine

Mother's Action in a Class of Children Aged Sixteen to Eighteen

 

V

 

ANSWERS TO A MONITRESS

 

Sutras

Correspondence-(a)

Correspondence-(b)

 

VI

 

ANSWERS TO A MONITOR

 

Answers to a Monitor

 

VII

 

CONVERSATIONS

 

5 April 1967

11 November 1967

8 February 1973

14 February 1973

18 February 1973

24 February 1973

26 February 1973

14 March 1973

 

Part Three:

 

Dramas

 

TOWARDS THE FUTURE

 

Towards the futures

 

THE GREAT SECRET

 

The great Secret (a)

The Great Secret (b)

 

THE ASCENT TO TRUTH

 

The Ascent to truth

14 February 1973   

 

In connection with a question on the need for continuity in organising the work with young children, Mother made the following remarks:

 

But there is one thing, one thing which is the main difficulty: it is the parents. When the children live with their parents I consider that it is hopeless, because the parents want their child to be educated as they were themselves, and they want them to get good jobs, to earn money – all the things that are contrary to our aspiration.

 The children who are with their parents...really, I don't know what to do. The parents have such a great influence on them that in the end they ask to go away to a school somewhere else.

 And that, of all the difficulties – all of them – that is the greatest: the influence of the parents. And if we try to counteract that influence the parents will begin to detest us and it will be even worse than before, because they will say unpleasant things about us. There.

That is my experience. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the children have taken a bad turn because of the parents. This seems indispensable to me. We should write a circular letter saying: “Parents who want their children to be educated in the ordinary way and learn in order to get a good job, to earn their living and have brilliant careers, should not send them here.” There.

We should...And that is very important.

You see, there are many, many parents who send their children here because it is less expensive than anywhere else. And that is worse than anything, worse than anything. We should...we should...we must absolutely tell them: “If you want your children to be educated in order to have a brilliant career, to earn money, do not send them here.” There.  

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A: Mother, we shall write a circular letter and I shall read you the text. We shall write something with B and the others.

 

There were some children who were doing very well and were very happy. They went to their parents for the holidays and came back completely changed and spoiled. And then if we tell them that, it will be even worse because their parents will tell them, “Oh, these people are bad, they are turning you against us.” So it must be...the parents must know that before they send them.

 This has been my experience for so many, so many, so many years, so many years! The danger is not the children, it is not laziness, it is not even that the children are rebellious: the danger, the great danger is the parents.

 Those who send their children here should do it knowingly, they should do it because it is unlike anywhere else. And there are many who won't come...And those who come only because it is less expensive, well, they will stop sending them.

 

When the teacher was about to leave, Mother added:

 

I would like...I would like the attitude of our school to be made known to people before they send their children, because it is a pity when the children are happy and the parents are not; and that creates situations that are ridiculous and sometimes dangerous. This is very important, very important! 

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