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Line 73: − + + + + + + + + + + − − === Education is a serious proposition ===
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=== Education is for all ===
=== Education is for all ===
Social efficiency being one of the aims of education, it was naturally insisted that all sections of the society were qualified to receive it and thus have access to it. Since it was the best agency to improve the society
Social efficiency being one of the aims of education, it was naturally insisted that all sections of the society were qualified to receive it and thus have access to it. Since it was the best agency to improve the society it was regarded necessary for all people and not a privilege to those lucky few who had money and leisure to devote to its acquisition. Upanayana samskara, which marked the beginning of religious and literary education was made mandatory to male children (and was so for female children in vedic times). The stories of [[Education of Vedic Women -Brahmavadinis|Brahmavadinis]] such as Gargi, Lopamudra etc clearly depict that women were engaged in vedic studies since ages. The Dvija varnas (the first three varnas) thus received at least the rudimentary of literary and religious education. Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (1.5.7) further declared that a man can discharge his debts to pitrs (ancestors) not by merely procreating but by providing for their education also. To enforce this goal several steps and measures were built in the education system.
* Adequate supply of teachers was ensured by having an injunction where Brahmanas were to take up teaching as a duty irrespective of the consideration whether they were monetarily supported or not.
* Rajas and Maharajas used to support Brahmanas by providing for their food and cows for anushtana (practicing of the yajnas) apart from small pieces of agricultural land which helped them maintain their family and students.
* Education was to be imparted without taking fees from students. Those students who were capable paid the Gurudakshina in different ways but it was not mandatory to pay any fee.
* Bhikshatana of a brahmachari was held in highest order for its moral perspectives, namely, the grhasthas were bound to support the persons in other ashramas and Annadana was held in highest importance, the social responsibility of the students was distributed in the society. The grhastas and brahmacharis from different varnas (poor or rich) learnt humility, the greatest moral value. Brahmacharis learnt time management and bhiksha instilled in the young minds that all are equal in a guru's ashrama whether the student came from a rich or a poor family background.
=== Education is a serious proposition ===
Though it was advocated that all people should receive the benefits of education, some checks were in place to avoid wastage of time on morally and intellectually unfit persons who were excluded from this benefit.
=== Education should be thorough ===
=== Education should be thorough ===
Education was rightly regarded as the knowledge source of illumination and was expected to enable its recipients to successfully meet and solve the difficulties and problems of life. Therefore education should be thorough and efficient, not limited at imparting a general knowledge of a number of subjects, ideally it was to train experts to handle different branches of knowledge. Since printing was not known, commiting the knowledge to memory was required and highly emphasised so that it stead throughout their life. To ensure this, personal attention to each student and practical training was insisted to maintain a high degree of proficiency.
Education was rightly regarded as the knowledge source of illumination and was expected to enable its recipients to successfully meet and solve the difficulties and problems of life. Therefore education should be thorough and efficient, not limited at imparting a general knowledge of a number of subjects, ideally it was to train experts to handle different branches of knowledge. Since printing was not known, commiting the knowledge to memory was required and highly emphasised so that it stead throughout their life. To ensure this, personal attention to each student and practical training was insisted to maintain a high degree of proficiency.
Education and Marriage are incompatible
Education and Marriage are incompatible