‘Remain silent’ is the oft-repeated statement of some teachers in schools who get irritated on questions being raised by students in the class. And a 5th grade student raised this issue asking, “What is the purpose of sitting in the class if I am unable to raise questions and clarify the doubts?”
The occasion was a unique discussion on 21st century pedagogy, held at the audio launch of an upcoming children’s film Egise Tarajuvvalu at Prasad Labs on Sunday.
These students were part of ‘Sciensation’, an after-school initiation that believes in learning through questioning and debating.
When students asked if the teachers should be allowed to implement their own pedagogical techniques in their class, one of the guests responded saying they should be given that freedom in order to produce a positive impact on the current education system.
Tollywood director Sekhar Kammula mentioned, in support of children, that parents everywhere were being brainwashed to prioritise marks and that children were not getting enough time to play. Later, Sciensation students, largely 4th and 6th graders, presented a skit explaining differential calculus which they learnt through the inquiry-based approach. Keeping in mind Feynman’s words, they made sure their explanation was understood even by a 5-year-old.
