Wither Education! 'Skills' or 'Values'

A world wide debate is raging, about the direction education is taking, both in the developed countries and in the developing countries. Here I am not at all referring to the very serious problems of school dropouts and their consequences for these kids in particular and the society in general. This is an area in which I have no exposure, and therefore no competency to comment upon. I am referring to those kids, who have the educational system available to them and are being processed through that system. Some of areas of concern and the list is large, are a general feeling of alienation among youth, drugs, school shootouts, preteen motherhood. Using theft, violence or even murders - just to get hold of somebody's iPod, etc! A general overriding observation in all nations is, that not only inside the schools, but spilling over into the society, is the predominance of pursuit of money, as the 'be all and end all', propelled by an ever increasing consumerist orgy.

In some countries, in the name of secularism or Freedom of Speech, studies that went by the name of moral science, ethics, scriptures, etc. have been abandoned. That 'freedom' is not for free and it comes with certain responsibilities, is a notion happily ignored. Few kids have role models, at home or at school: for good citizenship, co-operative living, fairness towards others, love and compassion, etc. In my days, we worshiped our teachers and particularly the Principal. This was further supplemented by guidance from our parents. All this has generally reduced. Earlier things were different both in the US and elsewhere. In the PS to this article, please see the letter Abraham Lincoln wrote to the Head Master of his son's school. There is a great lesson for all of us parents, in what Abe wrote. An ideal father writing to an ideal Head Master!

Coming from the corporate world and without being an educationist in any way, I feel today's educational system caters to developing and imparting 'skills' in students, rather than ensuring that 'skills' and 'values' have to necessarily go hand in hand. Eventually, that leads to how to become employable and make money and more money. Otherwise, how do we explain the collapse of the large 'respected' organizations like Arthur Andersen, Enron, and WorldCom, right up to the very recent case of Bear Stearns! They were all manned by the prominent alumni of the best schools of America. They had been taught their 'skills' and knew how to fiddle with figures, fool the shareholders and the media, till the bubble burst. They had not been taught 'values', that doing business is a 'trust', bestowed on us by the shareholders, pensioners and all other stakeholders of the company. What surprises me is, that these very top bosses - always in the national limelight, who sold that 'trust' down the river, have been rewarded with outrageous golden parachutes. Without a whimper from the public or shareholders! Have the expectations and tolerance levels of us the public also stooped so low? Aren't we equally responsible for the consequences of the 'skillful' deeds, of the shining alumni of the best the US and other countries have to offer?

Some educational institution, have tried to meet the problem head on. One such, is the 'Centre for Human Values', on the campus of Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata (Calcutta). It was my good fortune, to take part in an exclusive international workshop on, 'Management by Objectives or Management by Values'. The group of 30, from different parts of the world, comprised corporate chiefs, priests and nuns, defense personnel, professors of Management, bureaucrats, NGO volunteers, etc. For ten days we lived on the posh and buzzing campus, but with certain almost monastic rules. No talking with anyone. No reading of newspapers, watching TV, etc. though all these were very much in the guest house common room. The day started with meditation - each in his own way! Then commonalities of different faiths and philosophies on 'right' behavior and ethical decision making for the common good, etc. were presented by the convener. We were supposed to mull over these things and introspect. No animated discussion among ourselves. No showing off of our debating skills and winning brownie points. We replied only when the convener asked us a question. Even the basic ideas of master manipulators, like Machiavelli of Florence and Chankaya of the Maurya period were presented.

On the 9^th day we were given off. We were to remain in our rooms and produce a paper, about what conclusions we had come to, after 8 days of introspection and without any touch with the outside world. On the 10^th and last day, each one of us were to present a synopsis of our findings - to a much larger circle of professors and students of the I.I.M. One basic conclusion that everyone came to was: 'High Skills with Low Values, produce people like Hitler or the Enron folk. High Skills with High Values produce people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. Please see the accompanying graphic. I have not seen the latest curriculum of the Maharishi University, Fairfield, Iowa, but my recollections of the first one set up in India, was more or less on the same lines.

Elements of these concepts need to be taught to kids from the very 1^st Grade onwards. Secularism or not! Freedom of Speech or not! And don't forget to read Abe Lincoln's letter, reproduced below:

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's Head Master

Hewill have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader...
Teach him for every enemy there is a
friend,

Steer him away from envy,
the bullies are the easiest to lick... Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books...
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat...
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong...
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon...
Teach him to listen to all men...
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad...
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he's right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient...
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do...
He is such a fine fellow,
my son!
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
But teach him also that