Formal Agency -school
Kalyani Hingwe
SCHOOL
A school is a vibrant community centre, radiating life and energy all round, a school is a wonderful edifice, resting on the foundation of goodwill of the public, goodwill of parents, goodwill of the pupils.
Meaning and definition of the school
Meaning of school
Etymologically the word school is derived from Greek word ‘Skhole’ which means leisure. In ancient Greek leisure places were used for self development.Grdually these places were known as schools where teachers under apre planned system used to give specific doses of curriculam for a fixed time.
The disscusion forumsor talking shops where the youth of Athens spend their leisure time in sports and exercises, in training for war, gradually crystallized into school of philosophy and the higher arts.
Definition of school
To make meaning of school more clearly we have two definitions
(1) “School is a special environment, where certain quality of life and certain types of activies and occupations are provided with the object of securing the child’s development along desirable lines.
(2) Schools are institutions devised by civilized man for the purpose of aiding in the preparation of the young for well adjusted and efficient members of society.”
Need of School
· In ancient times human life was very simple. Human needs were very simple and can be easily fulfilled.
· Gradually further needs of man increases with increase in development and over population, the form of culture and civilization also become so complex and complicated.
· Hence the need was felt for some such institutions which could preserve, and transmit & develop the cultural heritage.
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In short, the formal agency of education namely school came into existence
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Importance of school
(1) Extensive Cultural Heritage: In modern times knowledge has become so vast varied cultural heritage so extensive that informal agencies like the family and community are quite incapable to shoulder to responsibility of transmitting this huge treasure of knowledge to the rising generation. School is the only formal agency to complete this task.
(2) Provision of a special environment: Informal agencies do not impart education according to a pre planned scheme. Hence the effect of such indefinite environment affects adversely on the growth and development of child. On the other hand, school provides a simple, pure, increasing and well organized environment before the child according to a pre planned scheme which ensures the physical, mental, emotional and social development of the child in natural way.
(3)Development of cultural pluralism: In school, children belonging to the different religions, castes, creeds and social hierarchy come together and mix up friendly with each other. It is why school is an important agency to develop cultural pluralism among the children.
(4) Creation of Educated Citizens: In democracy, school has a special importans. Children learn their rights and duties and develop love, affection, sympathy, cooperation, tolerance and responsibility in school.
(5)Propagation of ideals and ideologies of state: School is an important agency for the prorogation of ideas & ideologies of the state in the shortest possible time. So all the democratic, fascist and communist states have assigned the importance to the school.
Functions of School
Functions of school may be divided into two may be formal or informal.
Formal functions of school
(1) Development of Mental Powers: The first formal function of the schools is to develop the mental power of the children so that he can think properly, freely, clearly & logically.
(2) Cultivation of Dynamic and adaptable mind: The second formal function of the school is to impart such knowledge to the child which is not an end itself but a means to achieve some end.
(3) Preservation, Improvement and Transmission of Culture:
The third formal function of school is to preserve and improve the national culture and then transmit it to the rising generation.
(4)Vocational and Industrial Education: In the poor and developing country like India school must impart the vocational and Industrial knowledge according to their interest and capabilities.
(5)Reorganization and reconstruction of human experience:
The function of school is not to preserve the continuity of society only. It has to meet social problem to reform society and ultimately to purge it off its dead wood .For this continuous process of research in all the higher branches of knowledge is a must and the school should be equipped do it.
(6)Development of citizenship: To develop in children qualities of citizenship that they may become active and responsible citizens imbued with qualities of leadership leading the nation on the path of progress of all spheres of national life.
(7)Development of character: The most important formal function of school is to develop children morally and socially so that they are able to acquire firm and noble character. In early times the family and church developed the character of children jointly but now it has become the function of school to develop the character children by allowing them to participate in such moral ethical and social activities which may inculcate in them the socially desirable values and lead to the formation of a strong good character.
Informal education of school
Physical Development: To develop the child physically For this the entire environment of school should be such which leads to the physical wellbeing of children.
Development of social Feeling: The development of social feeling in all the children of school. As a matter of fact school is miniature of society .Hence the school should provide such a social environment before children by organizing students unions, social service camps ,social functions and parent teacher associations etc.so that all the socially desirable values namely sympathy ,cooperation ,tolerance ,social awakening and above all discipline develop in them in a natural way
Emotional Development: To develop the child emotionally ,For this the entire environment of school must be artistic .There should be garden ,flower plants and other beautiful natural objects .The school building and the campus should be neat and clean .The walls of the room should be white washed annually and the rooms be decorated tastefully .Trips ,tours ,exhibitions and debates also stimulate the emotional; and aesthetic sense of children who can further be infused with a sense of admiration towards truth, Beauty and Goodness, the high ideals of human life.