The Mirambika experience is unique and transformative, designed to help students grow and develop in every aspect of their lives. Mirambika is a non-traditional school based on Sri Aurobindo's Integral Education principles. This means that, in addition to providing a strong academic foundation, Mirambika also focuses on its students' spiritual, emotional, and physical development. The following text will examine a typical day for a student at Mirambika and their involvement with its 'curriculum.'
Opening its doors in 1981, the Mirambika school was a product of the visions of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Situated in New Delhi, India, it calls itself a school based on 'free progress education.' The school features an unconventional structure, starting from its unique and non-traditional building design to the role of the student being much more active. Sri Aurobindo, whose guiding principles have shaped the school's design and philosophy towards education, strongly believed in experiential learning as proposed in Indian Vedic traditions.
Referring to this belief of unconventional teaching, Aurobindo proclaims: '(Teaching) is only one and not the chief of the means and necessities of education: its central aim is the building of the powers of the human mind and spirit, it is the formation or, as I would prefer to view it, the evoking of knowledge and will and of the power to use knowledge, character, culture—that at least if no more. Moreover, this distinction makes an enormous difference.'
A typical day at Mirambika begins at 8:30 when children enter the school premises in regular clothes rather than uniforms. First on the list is a collective breakfast where informal interaction between the students is initiated to establish basic rapport. This is followed by a few minutes of meditation, where the children are asked to turn their awareness inward and examine their thoughts and emotions. This is done to teach the skill of self-examination and developing a bird's eye view of one's consciousness at an early age. The following days comprise typical pedagogic teaching, where children are handed projects relevant to their subjects. A collective lunch follows the teaching on darris (mats) out in the open. A brief meditation takes place to recollect what happened during the schooling hours. At around 3 pm in the noon, the classes are dismissed.
The striking feature of the Mirambika school's classroom is how less is centered around the teacher. The students carry out their projects in whatever manner they seem suits them. There is an absence of chairs; instead, there are low desks and darris for sitting. The center of the class features a 'sunken' area, a 'stage' for students who want to sing, dance, or present something to the rest of the class. The sunken area is also where the teachers, or Diyas, as they are called at Mirambika, reside, attending to the needs of their students.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Mirambika experience is the emphasis on experiential learning. Rather than relying solely on lectures and textbook learning, Mirambika encourages students to engage with the material in a hands-on, interactive way. This might involve field trips, community service projects, or other activities that allow students to learn by doing. Another key aspect of the Mirambika experience is the focus on personal growth and self-discovery. The school encourages students to explore their interests and passions and find unique life paths. This might involve participating in extracurricular activities, taking on leadership roles, or pursuing other interests outside the classroom.
The Diyas at Mirambika are made up of part-time instructors who volunteer, full-time teachers who live in the Ashram, and trainee teachers pursuing their B. Ed. They receive a stipend for their service, which varies for full-time and trainee teachers. However, they are not salaried employees, and the volunteers receive a transportation reimbursement. The selection of the teachers is based on their enthusiasm for dealing with children, level of affection, and drive to perform their duties.
A Diya responded in an interview, "I want to be an ideal teacher, be a perfect instrument of the divine, work for The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, to make my life worthy of living," when asked what their life's purpose is. They describe teaching as their sadhana or devotion. Diya is a portmanteau of the word 'didi,' meaning 'older sister,' and 'Diya,' an earthen lamp, symbolizing the guiding and enlightening role they are supposed to play in a student's life.
Mirambika offers a multi-level learning approach, meaning that students within a group may perform at various levels in various disciplines and that instruction is tailored* to each student's level. There is no set curriculum or syllabus at the school. However, goals are chosen and broken down into quarterly goals for each group based on the traits, abilities, and skills that should be cultivated over a year. Working on cross-disciplinary projects gives the kid various learning opportunities within this wide framework. Children engage in various activities specifically connected to the project that a particular group has selected while working on a project. Children gather data, engage in group discussions, quizzes, and competitions, organize displays, and "question" many subjects.
Field trips and experiments are occasionally organized as well. In order to give formal learning in informal settings, the groups are observed. The pace of the kid's learning is determined by his or her ability; for example, a youngster may perform at an age-appropriate level on one topic while performing at a higher level on another. The kids receive specialized instruction in English, Hindi, and math in the afternoons. Subject matter experts can instruct students one-on-one or in small groups based on their requirements and the level of learning necessary for their age group. As a result, the curriculum is still flexible and open-ended.
In Mirambika, no examinations or tests are given at any level or to any group. The professors decide the objectives be attained within a certain period. Typically, the instructor makes plans for the upcoming week. Activities are also scheduled in advance by the objectives, and evaluation is completed to determine how much has been covered and how much more is still needed. The educator creates the student's learning profile, which covers all subject areas (mental, physical, vital, and psychic).
The child's record is used to gauge progress rather than the records of the other group members. No grades or points are awarded; instead, the instructor comments to the parents about their child's work. Each youngster and his parents have a private discussion about it that is detailed and nonjudgmental. In higher groups, students self-evaluate after finishing a topic or activity for which the teachers have created lesson plans and timetables.
Rather than relying on punishment and negative reinforcement, Mirambika focuses on positive strategies designed to help students learn from their mistakes and make better choices in the future. One of the main disciplining strategies used at Mirambika is the concept of "natural consequences." This means that, rather than punishing them for misbehavior, the school allows students to experience the natural consequences of their actions. For example, if a student forgets to turn in a homework assignment, the natural consequence might be a lower grade. This approach helps students understand the cause and effect of their actions and learn from their mistakes more meaningfully.
Another innovative disciplining strategy used at Mirambika is the use of restorative justice. This approach focuses on repairing the harm caused by misbehavior rather than simply punishing the offender. For example, suppose a student gets into a physical altercation with a classmate. In that case, they might be asked to participate in a restorative justice circle to discuss the incident and devise a plan to make things right. This approach helps students understand their actions' impact on others and develop empathy and responsibility.
The Mirambika experience is a holistic and comprehensive one designed to help students grow and develop in every aspect of their lives, whether it is committed to helping students become well-rounded, confident, and successful individuals through experiential learning, personal growth opportunities, or academic excellence.
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