Are We Disrespecting Social Science?

In a world order dominated by the narratives of technocrats and capitalists, who have reduced the definition of success to mere individual professional achievements, we are witnessing the impact of the emptiness of these accolades through the silent screams of those deemed “successful.” Further, such an aggressive pursuit towards individualism has begun to manifest into hatred and intolerance, trying to tear apart the hard-knit social fabric of our country.

The education system, which is supposed to ingrain social values such as empathy, equality, harmony, and dignity, is seemingly failing. Our excessive obsession with subjects like science and mathematics has sidelined the foundational subject in social science. While numbers and logic are necessary for development, without socialness, it will lack the soul.

A Glorious Subject – Social Science

Traditionally, students consider social exams as mug-up and reproduction exercises. They often fail to realize the substance behind this living subject.

Lines in history were etched in the blood and sweat of the leaders, warriors, and martyrs, without whom India would have never smelled the fragrance of freedom. Geography is not an album of scenery, but an attempt to capture the clever plan of nature to foster in us a sense of interdependence by unevenly distributing the resources. Economics is not merely a bill of accounts. It is the art of managing limited resources to satisfy our unlimited needs. Art and culture are more than a visual spectacle. It brings out the brilliance of our cultural heritage, which defines our way of life. Polity is not a relic of rules, but a breathing moral soul that guides our life in the present and sets a vision for our future.

So, social science is not only a comprehensive subject, but also an ethical mother who nurtures her human children. Therefore, the failed relationship between such children and their mother in present times needs urgent attention.

Revive the Glory of Social Science

Any reforms centered around this regard must begin with school education. Often, social periods are borrowed by other subject teachers. In the minuscule time left, social teachers recite the lessons as facts rather than narrating them like a story. Self-study at home also lacks support. Thanks to the coaching centers for squeezing the remaining time in the name of competitive exams preparation, and that too, mostly for a career in science and mathematics.

A student choosing the field of social science as a career path is instantly stigmatized and branded as a “low scorer.” But the vibrancy of this discipline as a career choice is widely ignored. This is because people often know only a handful of career paths, like engineering, medicine, business, teaching, law enforcement, which are among the popular ones. Career options, including social scientists, psychiatrists, social activists, political scientists, economic advisors, human resource experts, and so on, are often hidden from public eyes.

Even if not opted as a career path, at least, social science must be meaningfully taught and learnt at the school level. Parents, students, and all the teachers, including those who handle different subjects, must be sensitized about the importance of such a foundational subject. Moreover, students must also be allowed to embrace socialness. This can be achieved through field trips to museums, remote villages, different religious sites, and old-age homes, where they can build their social sense.

Thus, in an age of individualism, social science fosters a sense of collectivism. Such a collective identity is imperative to hold our India together, because, without unity, India can pose itself as a country, but will never become a nation in the true sense.

We can be united and still debate. So, let the democracy thrive by expressing your thoughts in the comment section below.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school

Albert Einstein, by giving this quote, not only acknowledged the human being’s natural tendency to forget, but also their ability to remember only those that matters in life. So, in his view, what matters, is beyond the traditional syllabus of the schools, which is often unwritten, but is the one that helps us lead our lives. If life is like a war, then, education is like what remains after the dust has settled, because only that which remains, can lead the life forward. Not the ones that are dead or forgotten!

In this essay, we will explore the unwritten syllabus of schools; what remains after the dust settles; and importantly, if the one that got dusted, really matters or not. Also, we will see the case of what happens if everything is dusted and nothing remains. Let's get started!

Let us begin our journey from our schools!

Back to school

Traditionally, the school education was perceived to be confined to a “textbook syllabus”. So, the focus lies towards the mastery of syllabus, to be more precise, “memorizing the chronicles of syllabus”. Furthermore, the certification obtained through this memorization becomes a parameter for measurement of the education. One must realize that with time, the unrevised and unused contents will eventually disappear, leaving only some remnants to stay!

This is where one gets a question, “Did I waste all my school years?” The answer to that depends on another question, “Did you learn only the syllabus?”. This in turn raises a question for us – did we miss anything or misunderstand what education truly means?

Education Beyond Syllabus

The true meaning of education as Einstein envisioned, is beyond the textbook syllabus. While the syllabus gives us a list of intellectual contents that need to be studied, often there is an unwritten syllabus beyond textbooks that needs substantial coverage.

The first and foremost part of the unwritten syllabus is – Intellectual Probing (IP). The IP, in simple, is just synonymous to what Socrates implies as the “art of questioning”. It will help to develop critical learning ability, i.e. teaches one ‘how’ to learn something instead of just memorizing. This ‘how’ is of utmost importance because besides learning new things, even forgotten ones can be learned back if knew how to learn. And thus, beyond the traditionally emphasized ‘what’, the ‘how’ forms an important part of education.

The second part of the unwritten syllabus is – Emotional Intelligence (EI). EI, in simple, is the ability to manage your emotions and use your social skills to successfully navigate any situation in life. In life, even a simple situation can be blown up if the emotion takes over our cognition, thus hindering our social skills. And schools prepare us to such situations by often simulating it every day. We learn leadership skills through team events, pressure handling skills through jam-packed exam schedules, healthy competition through sports, and equanimity through yoga, and so on. All such learnings necessarily sharpen our EI to face those situations boldly.

Finally, the last one but also the best part of the unwritten syllabus is– Values and Attitude. In fact, the values and attitude are mostly shaped by textbook syllabus. One may forget the specifics of subjects they learned. What still persists is the permanent effects they had on the values and attitudes of the student. While the names, dates, facts and figures of the history subject vanishes, the nationalism invoked while learning the chapter of “Indian freedom struggle” can’t be erased. And such reflection of nationalism in our values and attitude, is the sign of true education. That’s why psychology defines education as the one that brings relatively permanent change in behaviour!

Thus, true education lies in the everlasting effects the unwritten syllabus had on one, when one truly pursued it. This goes well beyond the textbook content, which may be forgotten if not applied in one’s career. But this reminds us of our previous question, “If unwritten syllabus is the true education, then, the once pursued now forgotten knowledge, a waste?” Not really!

The forgotten, are mere ‘means’

While becoming an educated person is the destination, it is not possible without a journey. All the knowledge we obtain is a means to prepare ourselves for our future career. Once its purpose is done, it departs from us just like how a rocket departs from the spaceship once it reaches the space! Poor understanding of this has caused many confusions and misjudgments in the society.

One such popular misconception is expecting career-linearity. While people often criticised the mismatch between graduation and career path against a linear career, many have shown that such criticisms are baseless!

 Dolph Lundgren, famous for his role as a boxer named ‘Ivan Drako’ in Rocky IV, was actually a graduate in Chemical Engineering. When asked about this career switch, he said while he forgot most of what was taught in his graduation, the ability to handle pressure, lesson of perseverance, and work ethic were inspired from his Engineering, especially the project phase. This was of paramount importance for his acting career.

Another example is Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, an Indian biologist who got Nobel Prize in chemistry, started his career as PhD holder in Physics! Here, the journey of physics taught him critical thinking, while the destination in chemistry got him the Nobel prize.

Similarly, other notable examples include Gandhi who started as lawyer to become a national leader. Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal became the leader of Jhansi rani regiment of Subash Chandra Bose’s INA, started as a doctor. She also later turned into a politician and a women rights activist.

So, all of them took what was important from their old careers, and together with their values, pursued their new career paths with conviction. If they have worried about what they forgot and deemed them waste, then, they won’t have realized the power of what they have got, nor would have got that in the first place. Therefore, the journey holds utmost importance, and being educated is just a destination!

In this context, it is fascinating to think upon another thoughtful question – then who are actually the “uneducated” in real sense?

Case of nothing remains

While true education is what one learned from the unwritten syllabus, the educated-uneducated classification depends on the degree to which it remains in them. Sometimes, nothing may remain!

Consider the example of two person. One with multiple degrees, many accolades, but is a short-tempered and self-centred. The other person has no degree, but is very sociable, friendly, and altruistic. When we think who can have better relationship with peers, the obvious answer is the second person. This answer also points to us who really is the educated ones! For the first person, despite all the achievements, the life becomes hollow and empty because true education never rested in these academic achievements. The true goal of pursuing education is to lead a better life. And for that, mingling with people around and living together with good values becomes paramount.

Thus, the real education is not the one that is constrained by textbook syllabus, but extends beyond it, encompassing the ability to critically learn, control emotions, and develop behaviour filled with good values. So, one must not worry about the forgotten texts as it was just the part of the journey to become educated. And, the truly educated one uses education wisely, leading an ethical life, thus bringing happiness to all – Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavanthu!!

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