Gandhi: Curriculum of Love, Nonviolence, Justice, and Peace

• In Event: 41.019 - Curriculum of Love, Justice, and Peace? Genocide of Education? Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Abstract

This panelist will briefly and crisply sketch examples from historical studies, mostly in India, focusing on historical educational work of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) and Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). In an intriguing connection, Tagore (later recipient of the Noble Prize for Literature) was in Holland at the same time as Ki Hadjar was there, and worked together with followers of Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) John Dewey (1859-1952), and Maria Montessori (1870-1952). Both Tagore and Ki Hadjar of Indonesia returned to their home countries to create alternatives to schools that supported and perpetuated conquest, showing educational ventures that made community, play, love, and peace central to a lived curriculum. They continued to share efforts on education throughout their careers as educators. Gandhi, of course, influenced a curriculum based on love, nonviolence, justice, and peace through education implicit in community and movement building that educated for massive political changes in India.

Author

• Namrata Sharma, State University of New York