My topic is Education as a Liberal discipline.

But before that I want to discuss about

what is Discipline? Discipline reflects the philosophy of life. In other words, despotic
and authoritarian governments enforce rigid discipline while democratic countries
give more or less freedom of action to children in schools. Prof. Adam has discussed
three forms of discipline on philosophical basis:
1) Repressionistic discipline: This type of discipline is based on punishment,
fear and repression. There is no freedom for child at all. Idealists followed the
repressionistic discipline in order to develop good behaviour in the child, so
that he could lead a holy life for salvation.
2) Impressionistic discipline: This type of discipline is based upon selfdiscipline. It is believed that no child is good or bad in behaviour and his
behaviour can be shaped by teachers who come in contact with him. There is
no need for corporal punishment or creating a sense of fear in the minds of
the children. Love, sympathy and affection transform the feelings and actions
of children for better channels. Realists advocated this type of discipline.
3) Emancipatory discipline: This type of discipline is based on naturalism.
Naturalists advocate full freedom for the child. This freedom develops him like
the flower of a plant. Here the child is allowed to learn by the laws and rules of
natural consequences. If the child makes a mistake, he would be punished by
nature. So, nothing is dictated to him from outside. It enables the child to
develop his thinking and reasoning power naturally.
Here, the problem before us is which type of discipline should a school follow?
Modern concept of discipline gives maximum freedom to child and it provides
opportunities to have self-control, coexistence and inner discipline based upon the
democratic ideology and social philosophy.
Well I am here to discuss about liberal discipline. Now, what is LIBERAL? Liberal
means free, open-minded.
So, the LIBERAL EDUCATION means the education of good quality that is free for
every child irrespective of caste, creed and colour.
Now what the term liberal discipline is? According to international dictionary of
education it implies (limited) teachers classroom control or general control of pupil
behaviour whereas philosophy of education on the other hand signifies analytical
study of educational problems, thought and practice.
In the process of education, teacher is a philosopher, who imparts knowledge to the
students through interactions and other deliberative processes. Therefore, three
components are involved in the process of teaching and learning. These are:
1. Teacher
2. Student,
3. Subject matter.
If one among the three is initiated the other two are reciprocally involved.

Therefore, teacher through his subject matter in the form of curriculum influences the
personality of the child and instils in him a thoughtful awakening and beliefs.
Discipline, according to Horne, has its beginning in the outer manifestation, but it
will be better if it is transformed into a habit and culminates into self-discipline.
Development of moral values, courtesy, subordination, peace, harmony, brotherhood
and ethics are the forms of discipline can be taught and inculcated by the teacher not
only as a preacher but also as a practiser.
Intervention of the teacher to impose discipline is harmful, therefore, it should be
learnt through natural consequence. Teachers set the stage, provide the material
and creates situation which facilitates the child to grow.
The aim of discipline is to create in the child a social consciousness which prevent
him from indulging in anti-social activities. Self-discipline leads the child for the
fulfilment of social obligations. Let the teacher provide education in the social
environment to develop social skills among the child. Ethnic conflicts, majorityminority relationships and decisive forces which weaken our social fibre are the
matter of concern to be addressed by the teachers to set aside the unrests with
accuracy and efficiency and pave way for the disciplined life among the students of
today who are the becon lights of tomorrow.
Teacher is an active supervisor and real guide with sympathetic disposition towards
his students to pursuit training for discipline. Thought provoking teacher acts with
love and softness behaves with his people as parents do with their child. Teacher
should ease learning and abhor tidy atmosphere and restrain from stiffness. Such
philosophical approach in education is a way in for liberal discipline.
Whenever a student commit mistake, teachers role to guide him should be generous
but not volatile. He should not make fun of the student for the wrongs otherwise he
feels insulted. Children dislike the activity with which the punishment is associated.
However, on doing wrongs, it is not advisable to be a silent spectator. The wise
approach is to ascertain the cause, level of mistake and the consequences thereof. It
is suggested to get him realised of his wrongs in the same way he rears his own
children. This approach of belongingness that I belong to you and you belong to
me is needed to impose liberal discipline in and outside the class room.
As I discussed previously that education should be for all irrespective of caste, creed
and colour. Education in technical branches has become so costly that poor parents
of most talented students cannot even think of getting their wards admitted into such
institutions. We need a system of education that can provide equal opportunities to
all rich and poor, education that can contribute towards development and can
promote growth not only in terms of GDP but may also bring about all out
development and growth such that may alleviate poverty and may narrow the gulf

between the rich and the poor. We need education system that may eradicate
illiteracy and may provide the common man an access not only to basic education
but also to higher and technical education.
Now the most important question arises what is education? Although we have
discussed it earlier but there are some other facts also that we are going to discuss.
The education has been oldest of the art and youngest of the professions.
As we all know, human life is the best creation of God and has got two aspects: the
biological and the socio-cultural. Biological aspect is found in plant and animal life.
Eating, drinking, sleeping and sexual life are common to both animals and men. But
the socio-cultural aspect is the rare distinction of human life alone. It is only man who
is capable of being educated. Through education, he tries to seek new ideas and
new ways of life. It is again through education that he promotes his intelligence and
adds his knowledge with which he can move the world for good or for evil, according
to his wishes. Thus, he attempts to understand himself in relation to the world about
him and to transmit that knowledge succeeding generations.
Education is vital process of social life. Education not only comes from the books
and school teachers, but also from knowledge and experience by socialisation. We
can say that education can be learnt from anywhere.
Thank you all for your attention and now Shreya will tell you about the
interdisciplinary nature of education. Thanks again