Do we really need a school to learn?

School is an establishment where young children as young as 5 years start spending their life till they become adult twenty plus years. All of us assume that, they get groomed by their teachers to mould them into better human beings who can shoulder various responsibilities in their life. If we analyze properly, the prime and productive age of our children is spent in the schools. Is it worth spending so many years in the school? As long as someone knows how to read and write is it not possible to get education staying back home.

The argument can be in its favour as well as against the idea of having formally to go to the school to get education something like distance education which is picking up around the world. But can distance education substitute the learning that students get back in the schools.  It is not the question of academics /curriculum that we are taking about, this may be achieved staying home and studying but what about social learning/wholesome education where most of the life is to be spent in the social circus, dealing with different individuals whether one works in a business company or as a politician or in any government organization there are no exceptions one lands up dealing with people. School is the place where our children are taught all these as they get to interact with different individual with their own unique personalities day after day for as long as they are in the school. Can a person studying at home will be able to acquire the skills to handle these situations?

The great people who shook the world in their own field like William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, and Bill Gates etc did not have smooth schooling. All of them simply hated schools. Going by their biography they were problematic children in schools and had to change many schools .Many others simply had basic education yet they became the most celebrated writers, scholars etc. So where do we strike the balance between formal schooling and informal learning own their own.

Further if turn to the history of education especially in India where Gurukul system existed and monastic education in Tibet, Bhutan and many other Buddhist countries and Madrasas in Muslim countries the children are literarily separated from their parents and sent to these places for education while they are still very young. They are bound to follow the tough rules and regulations, sometimes very harsh punishment where they will have to bear from their gurus and seniors. They cannot raise their voices because there is no one to listen to; they survive digesting everything whether it is good or bad. This system still continues in many parts of the world. Is this system of education has produced exceptional human beings? I definitely do not think so.

Then what could be the best form of the education.  I definitely feel that we need more research, analysis and synthesizing the hypothesis what may be the best form of the education. It necessarily need not be going to school for the 20 plus year to mould ones character which is as of now universally accepted as the best form of the education.

Bajothang Higher Secondary School- What is unique?

Our school is located in Punatsangchu River basin; did you know that it was previously a paddy field? Yes, that’s why the land is fertile and even we can see the traces now and everything grows well that we plant in our campus.

Did you know that our campus now was once a barren land (paddy field) without a single tree? Yes,  The mini artificial forest we have now along the river below the  school campus and around the campus  that allows us to breath fresh air all the time, was our hard work that converted desert into a green land ( thanks to former students and teachers who did the hard work, we are only maintaining now).

Yes, all of us know now how chilly is planted and where its bears the fruits in the roots or stems or leaves. Thanks to our beautiful agriculture field which allows us to explore all these. This is becoming a difficulty in urban towns. Don’t miss the chance to explore more.

Thanks to our mini fishery pond. Even if we cannot see few fishes we have deep inside the water, the study of tadpoles is not at all a problem that is plenty in the surface along with the toads. If you miss the opportunity to see tadpoles here in our pond, you might land up seeing them only in the television, so take your chances now or never.

In small campus of just over 15 acres, have you realized that we have more than 20 species of birds living with us? If not, go for birds watching now. It is wonderful to see that we have such a pristine environment with all birds of Wangduephodrang seems concentrated in our campus.  Let’s thank ourselves for getting these birds to our campus.

Did you know that there are hundreds of nest of different species of birds and they are breeding here? If no, go around the campus.  Even check the holes in the concrete retention wall at the back of MP Hall. You will find that it is home for the hop-pies family of birds. No place is spared.

Seen a Peepal tree in your life? If not go near our football ground, you will find a big one there and many more small ones all around the campus. This tree is special in our life as Lord Buddha mediated under Peepal tree for 51 days and got enlightenment( in Dzongkaha it is called JangchubSing).

Did you know the oldest living tree in this earth is? If no, then it is the Baniyan tree in the botanical garden in Calcutta, India.  It is 350 years old. We have a younger Baniyan tree in the middle of the park just below basketball court. You might not see in other places as this tree is quite rare. Don’t miss too see it.

Thank you everyone for creating beautiful environment, let’s do more and be the proud owner of this pristine environment and our school.