As Daniel H. Pink writes in – ‘When’ -Human mood is positive in the mornings, rising from about 0700 hrs. to noon. It then goes into a decline for about two hours and then begins a climb up till about ‘Sleep time’. All the time, abiding by individual internal biological clocks. Adolescents start slow and hence, their classes could be scheduled to start from two hours later.

This biological factor causes people to be happier and increasingly warm toward others and enjoy themselves more in the mornings, less during the afternoon and begin to feel more so again in the evenings. Moods are internal states, but they have an external imprint. Hence, study or work in the morning could be reasonably upbeat and positive, less irritable or combative. As the day progresses the tone grows negative and less resolute. Around lunch time, it re-bounds slightly due to the energy boost of the lunch. It then again becomes negative and recovers only at the end of the day. Such differences could cause up to a 20 percent reduction in the cognitive functions. This trend is so pervasive that it is strongly advised that it be taken into account while designing the study and play times for children. It also, affects the test results for children for exams taken in the mornings or in the afternoon. The daily schedule in schools for indoor classes and outdoor activities should take all this into consideration.

It is very important to give kids a break or recess every so often. Breaks are not deviation from learning. They are part of it. They help children, work harder, fidget less and focus more intensely. They also, help children develop better social skills, greater empathy, and cause fewer disruptions, even to eat healthier food. Schedule a 15 minutes’ recess before lunch and perhaps a 10 to 15 mins recess every hour. Recesses do not have to be tightly structured, let children benefit from negotiating their own rules. Of course, also, give the teachers a break by scheduling alternate monitoring duties.

Physical Education classes are not breaks and should not be considered a substitute. Also, avoid using denial of breaks as a punishment.

“The internet, and now AI, ultimately revolutionizes any industry that has an information or media-based product” – It is now time that it does this to education. Learning should be about solving problems, using all resources available to them. Open book or access to internet during examinations would be more effective. Of course, the question asked and the problems set to be resolved would have to be structured for such access.

Education helps to reduce inequality in populations, increases the freedom of women and health and welfare of their families, and leads to improved social and economic mobility. Beyond a certain level, education perse has little correlation with wealth or productivity. So, though we need to encourage education we need to encourage an attitude of ‘Jugaad’ – skills at doing’ more by tinkering and trial and error. The educated can then create theories out of practical knowledge. Experimentation can make people much more productive than theories. Most learning is by the apprentice model. History shows us that theory most often arises to explain how and why what already works does, and not the other way around, from theory to implementation. (See – ‘www.barefootcollege.org). Students should be allowed to take breaks in their education at various levels, even for a year or so and rejoin classes as appropriate.

“Let’s not leave an educational vacuum to be filled by religious extremists who go to families who have no other options and offer meals, housing and some form of education. If we are going to combat extremism then we must educate (properly) those same children” – Hillary Clinton

If basic education is provided on such lines and job opportunities (especially vocational) are provided at various skill levels, then higher education can be purely merit based, as is essential for overall growth of knowledge and technology and of the Nation’s economy as a whole.

All this is now taken as a given and hereinafter we discuss only the content of education.

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