Dear J,
I think the classes for children have now concluded. The two classes—birdwatching and observing plants—are both extremely important. Art education is provided to children today only in a few select schools. I believe these two forms of training, which directly engage children with nature, can free them from today’s brain-centered lethargy and help them connect deeply with the natural world.
What they need today is an understanding of nature. That essentially means teaching them how joyful it is to discover something new. This is what is meant by education through play and experiential learning. The truth is that, in today’s environment, even the largest city-based schools cannot really provide this. As for villages, there is hardly any need to even discuss the possibility.
These classes seem to be a form of alternative education. They compensate for what is lacking in conventional education.
Mani Arvind
Dear Mani,
In reality, even drawing is not taught properly in our colleges or schools. The people teaching art there are usually not practicing artists. At best, there may be a few who know only the basics of drawing. Such education does not attract children either.
In this class, an expert taught numerous small techniques of drawing. He taught the basic grammar of the art. Once that was learned, drawing itself became easy.
One thing that almost everyone who participated in this class realized was that nearly everyone can draw to some extent, and that drawing can become a profound meditative experience that concentrates one’s attention.
Therefore, this is a class suitable for everyone. It is a class suitable for children. At least in the future, I hope many more children will participate in it.
J.
