By Chandranna NS 
II. Read and discuss. Then write:
1) What is the effect of the song of the choristers on the listeners?
The Choristers are the first who rise and go round the Ashram singing their morning hymn, the
Voices can be heard in distance, drawing nearer and nearer and then the sound dies away as choir passes on to another port of the Ashram and then again it comes nearer and near. The beauty of the sound in the silent morning air and the sense of joy and reverence which it brings give peace to the soul.
2) How are the classes held in the afternoon in Shantiniketan?
In the afternoon classes; the work is chiefly with hands as well as handiwork is practiced and the boys own natural tastes are very soon discovered. Some prefer carpentry others prefer mechanical work others enjoy spinning and weaving others become skilled in draftsman or painters other are musicians
3) How do the boys spend their evenings in Shantiniketan?
In the evening at sunset they return from their fields and sit down once more for a short time to meditate, in silence.
4) How are the classes at Shantiniketan different from the classes in other schools?
In other School’s all the boys are made to learn certain subjects. They do not give scope for the development of
natural facts. Only bookish knowledge is important. Teachers do not take interest in discovering natural
talents of the students. But in Shantiniketan work of books is less. School is conducted in the open air. Boys are
allowed to ask questions. Instead of 40 to 50 boys, there will be group of 8 to 10 boys. Teachers take keen interest.
The boy is allowed to practice and learn in which he is interested. It may be carpentry, painting, music, spinning
or weaving. The education here is the ‘living education.’
5) How does Shantiniketan prepare the boys for life?
The education here is the living education. Boys are taught according to their tastes and preferences. They
enjoy learning and become exports in the subject of their liking. That is how Shantiniketan prepares boys for life.
IV.
Living Education Unimaginative Instruction
Meditating learners Learning outside in nature, Students asking questions to Teachers Experimenting Creative thinking. Identifying,students natural tastes. Memorizing, punishing dictating notes,Passive listeners,bookish learning
5) Write a paragraph describing your idea of a good school.
According to me a good school is one where boys get living education. The school should give scope to all the
students to develop their natural tastes of their liking if they prefer music or spinning painting etc. They should be
taught accordingly. It is better to keep the boys away from the bookish knowledge. Students must be allowed to take
part in sports and game. In good school scope should be provided for meditation and boys must be allowed to ask
questions to their teachers and gain knowledge. I don’t want that boys in the school would be passive listeners.
‘Prayer, singing hymns meditation all these should become part of education. If the instruction is given in the
open air instead of classrooms boys enjoy. Education in different Handicrafts will prepare boys for their future life.
