Rousseau (1712-1778) was a distinguished French philosopher. Emile (1966) is famous work on education. He was deeply influenced by French Revolution. He believes that social institutions are the cause of the all evils. He also thinks that everything is good but after coming in hand of human it becomes evil. He preferred freedom in everything and opposed against all kind of restriction, rules and principles. He is of view that ‘human beings are born free but chained by society’. I found this very interesting citation in his ‘Emile’. He is disillusioned by city and society. He remarks that city is the graveyard of human being.
Basically, his thought about child centered in education. He considers that life is education. He goes saying that education is natural process, not mechanical. It is internal development not collection of information. He gives emphasis that children should be given education according their interest and ability. He says that child should be considered as child during delivering education. He has given reinforcement towards children’s natural development. Moreover, he believes that external knowledge (books) should not be imposed over child.
In Emile, he has personified Emile as boy and Shopie as girl. He wants to give both different kinds of educations. Rousseau thinks that Emile would do productive work whereas Sophie would do reproductive work. According to Rousseau, curriculum should be consists of Human, nature, and things. Curriculum should be made according child’s interest and ability.
Rousseau’s approach to education is learning by doing, observing and experiencing. He hates books because books teach what he does not know. He believes that our first teacher is our hand, legs and eyes. He gives stress on visual training method. He asserts that leave child alone and let child explore the truth and truth not to be told. He has absolute faith in nature so he views that lap of nature is good school. He put individual importance for education on the basis of children’s interest, capability and ability so girls and boys should not be given same education. In this way Rousseau thinks to give different education to women. According to Rousseau, boy should be taught health education, philosophy and natural. On the other hand, girl should be taught religious, traditional education (culinary skills). Girl should be obedient, humble, nurture the child.
He gives child primary importance and teacher is secondary. He says that knowledge and ideal should not be imposed. He thinks that teacher should be friendly, guide and as facilitator. Teacher treatment should be affectionately, lovely towards children. School should be located in natural atmosphere and away from society and city.
He believes that leave child free, child will become disciplined. He thinks that discipline should be internally by love, affection and sympathy. Discipline must not be external force. Child will learn by nature, what is good and bad. Children from 1-12 year, theoretical and oral knowledge is meaningful.
Loophole of Rousseau’s education:
i- Stereotype thinking against women education
ii- Against society
iii- Against lecture method
iv- Against bookish knowledge till 1-12 years.
