Unwind

What comes to your mind when you think of -

'India'

'School'

'Government'

'Religion'

'Men'

'Women'

'Teachers'

'USA'

'Mathematics'



This fluency exercise is a great tool to capture the 'perception' of people. We see only what we want to see and perception plays a vital role in the mind to make us see what we want to see. List down your perception on the topics that are listed above and Analise how these perceptions were formed!



A powerful statement that I learnt in CHYK* was 'Man is limited by his beliefs.' What a statement! WE form certain perceptions, beliefs and assumptions and we are limited by them! Lot of us even fail to recognize this truth and continue to be limited by them.


Once a person forms a strong perception or belief it is really difficult look at things the other way. How difficult would be to convince about democracy to a communist or the vise verso! Its that difficult.

Imagine how difficult then is to influence the education scenario! How many stockholder's perceptions we need to influence...! Parent... Teacher....Principal...Decision maker....

Few of the many strong perceptions that are really challenging to break is -
'Text book is my curriculum' (In fact many a teachers and principals may not even be aware of what is a curriculum... Many wouldn't even be aware of a NCF

'I need to mould my children. I have to impart knowledge.' (This very assumption stems from the perception that children don't know anything. I will have to 'teach' them. )

'I have taught for 20 years. I 'know' how to teach.' (A very strong perception that blocks a teacher from learning and implementing new techniques and appreciate new concepts. )

'My child has to score good marks to be successful.' (A very powerful assumption, the side effect of which all of us are aware of. The other hidden assumption in this is that we think we will be happy if we are successful and 'success' itself varies according to each ones perception!')

These are just a few. There are many more such perceptions that act as strong force in education reformation.

As we gather more and more experiences perceptions, beliefs, assumptions are formed without even our knowledge. It is very important we INWIND, REWIND and UNWIND from time to time.

Leave your comments on this. Share some of the perceptions that you think are influencing the change in education.













*CHYK is the Global youth wing of Chinmaya Mission