Howard Gardners Principles of Multiple Intelligence - Essay Example

UTOPIA Utopian schools are based upon the theory of Utopia. Utopia means an imaginary island that is ideal to live. Sir Thomas More's theoryis modern, highly applicable and so is appealing. It provides clean and healthy environment to the children and their thoughts at the same time their innocence is not polluted by the vices of the society and helps them to grow strongly and boldly. Here children explore the world according to their interests. "They learn to think for themselves, and learn to use Information age tools to unearth the knowledge they need from multiple sources." (Sudbury Valley School, 2006). They take the initiative and choose their own activities. Their capacities to understand themselves increases and if they are wrong in taking any decisions they would never commit the mistake again. The children in their childhood at the tender age are highly humiliated and scolded like hell for not scoring good marks in their academics. The students of Utopian schools do not face such a humiliation. Education must wipe away sorrows and humiliation but should not bring fever and pain and tension to the little hearts. In these Utopian schools happiness boosts their primary strength to pursue their goals. The students here gain self-respect by accommodating and giving place to their thoughts opinions and decisions. Their creativity comes to light and they prove how competent they are. There are some negative points because which the theory could be sidelined or is not appealing and that points are, in these theory based schools the family values are given least important. Children are the dreams of their parents and they wish to play a very important and active role in the upbringing of their offspring. If parents too give them freedom and in school to get freedom, then there is an over dosage of freedom which may cause damage to their attitude at times. The children without the fear of anybody may turn out to be a daredevil. Another quality that is missing is self-discipline, which is needed by good citizen and the nation too which the Utopian students lack in them. Time is not always favorable and what if they fail in their attempts, will they turn violent and rapacious. Are they controllable by any one Will they have patience All these aspects are discussed and mentioned anywhere. Are all the children so perfect in their persona who never does any crime If some of them doesn't have any special skill or talent then what Another minus point is education. Personal skills and talents are given importance but education is not a must. If they neglect education with the play mood what then, If the children doesn't know about the place they stand, from where they have come, and the country witnessed, the struggles and sacrifices of their ancestors, they will not have any words in their mouth when their country is ridiculously criticized. It is like a child looses all his memory due to some accident after he or she has grown up. Who knows nothing about the past Knowing our ancient history is like paying homage to the brave and great ancestors. Also to understand the political scenario of the nation, that is civics to understand the topography of the country, that is geography are necessary. In my opinion basic minimum education about all the subjects is a must for any well-groomed person. Is the life so precious that one cannot spend small part of life with the books It is the book that makes the man from a wild homo sapiens to a civilized man. Devoid education man is a beast. Some theories are not realistic because the real life doesn't match with the imaginary world. The life is the mixture of all sorts of emotions and feelings. A man cannot be happy always or in a same state or mood whole of the life, this is not philosophy it is the way of the world. For any one the pleasure and the pain are in equal amounts, otherwise, he may turn dull, sick or boring if the weather is same all the time and thus the things may not look that interesting as they were when pursuing. According to some theories there exists total peace and harmony, what if the neighboring countries or any other nation comes to attack. There aren't any measures taken to protect the nation from enemies, no physical training imparted, the spirit of patriotism find no traces anywhere. Every one would turn out to be self-centered thinking about themselves always. If every one bothers about their own self who will stand for the country and its security. The spirit of national integrity does vanish. Thus the theories fail to provide a secured life to the fellow men of the country. Also the theories focus more on peace and harmony, but peace is something that old aged people look forward for as they cannot fight any serious problematic situation if arises both physically and in mentation. The young generation has the strength, the brain and the stamina to fight all sorts of situation that arise take up life as a struggle to reach the new heights in life with all the pride. Peace is like an ocean without waves. The role of leader in the Utopian Organization: In the Utopian organization the role of the leader is not to lead the comrades but to follow the comrades and fight them. He need not raise his voice or give speeches but listen to what he is asked for and reply and pass over his knowledge to the present generation. "To allow children to be free from compulsory or imposed assessment, allowing them to develop their own goals and sense of achievement".(www.Summerhillschool.co.uk, A.S.Neil, 1921). Practically he is idle most of the time and does nothing. Unlike other leaders they don't push of their thoughts over to the students or die hard to inspire and preach, to be an ideal teacher. Their mere presence itself is creating awareness among the students. Here the life is the teacher and world is the school and living is learning. Here the experiences teach and these experiences are given and guided by the leaders who let the students live their life freely and independently. Even though their involvement is not much the institution needs them, they watch the students and nurture and make the school an institution. Under the caring and supportive concern of the leader, the pupils are forged to take their path. The process of self-direction comes to them as natural without any self-evidence to those who grow up in Utopian civilization. The role of Utopian vision: The vision plays quiet an important role in developing the personal attitude of each and every student with an idea of progress for every. The vision is recreating the pre-lapsarian version through human agency. This vision is successful in driving away the innermost "darkness of the heart" of all the children. This vision gave rise to the new technique with which humankind is benefited to its level best. The vision also serves as a source through which children could be governed in a healthy and productive way without letting them to face shame guilt and fear regarding punishment. The school is meeting the expectation of a Utopian organization with the philosophy as its deep roots. " The Utopian Vision came into being as a third dimensional construct to bring forward universal TRUTH from various realms, dimensions, experiences and beings, through the mediums of the written word, lectures, seminars and individual counseling"(www.utopianvision.homestead.com,juleskennedy,2003-2006) Here in these schools the Utopian vision iterates innumerable times. Of all, the teachers are the ones who strongly adhere to the Utopian vision and propose its theory to the parents. After the middle of 19th century, the political and economic theorists largely displaced the humanitarian socialists like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel's, whose preaching's went in vain. This given place to great development in economy and emerged as a super power. Howard Gardner's Principles of Multiple Intelligence: He is a professor in the Graduate School of Education and a co-director of a Project Zero Harvard University. According to him children can be taught in eight different ways or principles through his work Frames of Mind in 1983.The Principles are 1. Verbal - Linguistic: The students are capable of thinking and understand the words told to them and express their thoughts in language. They could be taught by taking story-telling classes. 2. Logical Mathematical: Students can understand the complex mathematical calculations, they can evaluate logical solution to any problem, and they can understand relation between cause and its effect and its probable outcomes. They can be easily taught through digits and some logic build-ups. 3. Music therapy: To those who like music would be happy for sound that is beautiful, gentle, and rhythmic. They understand the feelings behind those sounds. They can be taught by music and sound. 4. Bodily Kinesthetic: The movements of body are controlled manually with special grace and cleverness. Creating situations in which they act spontaneously and react afterwards. They are taught through physical movement with sense of touch, through feelings with some experiences. 5. Spatial-Visual: Any issue can be described through interpretation, creating visual images. They can understand the meaning behind the picture and imagine the expression conveyed by it. An image is presented with a particular message, which could be easily understood after giving place to 3D structures. 6. Interpersonal skill: Ability to understand the feeling of others and their situation around them. Interpret the behavior and communication. Demonstrating felings through body language does teaching; moods are construed by facial expressions. 7. Interpersonal: Self-awareness, personal cognizance, personal objectivity, and the ability to understand oneself. They are taught through self-reflection and self-direction. As most of the schools are following his principles he claims to be a synthesizing leader. Reference Jonathan Swift. (1999). Gulliver's Travels. "A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms". Retrieved 24 October 2006, from, http://www.jaffebros.com/lee/gulliver/bk4/chap4-1.html. Louis Sebastien Mercier. (1771). Memoirs of the Year Two Thousand Five Hundred. London: Printed for G. Robinson. William Godwin. (1793). Enquiry Concerning Political Justice. "On the Future of Political Societies". London: Printed for C.G And Rudineds. Kutchen Larry. (2000). Timothy Dwight's Anglo-American georgic: Greenfield Hill and the rise of United States imperialism. Retrieved 24 October 2006, from, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3822/is_200010/ai_n8926949. Randell Hillebrand. (n.d.). The Oneida Community. Retrieved 24 October 2006, from, http://www.nyhistory.com/central/oneida.htm. Charles Henri Saint-Simon. (1975). 'Sketch of the New Political System' in Keith Taylor (ed.), Henri Saint-Simon 1760- 1825: Selected Writings on Science, Industry and Social Organisation. London: Croom Helm. Read More