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B. Tagore’s View of Education Reflected in His Poems
This part reveals Tagore’s view of education. There are some views found in the poems. The study
presents Tagore’s view in every poem.
1. Tagore’s View of Education Reflected in The Child-Angel
At a glance, the writer sees an eye of a father in this poem. The representation of a father crossed
in the writer’s mind at the first time he read the poem. He wants the child to be brave to face their life. As an educator and a poet,
Tagore regards his students as his own child. He loves them and encourages them to do their best. Agree with his idea in loving his students as a parent for them,
Binder 145 states the importance of affection of the master for his pupils. In this poem, the poet seems to
regard the child as “God’s gift”. The poet puts the child as a really good creature even he compares the child with an angel.
Since the writer regards the child as the poet’s student, the writer sees that the poet wants to give the best education to the child. The student in this poem is the
futu re of India that hopefully can bring peace and freedom to India. Tagore’s idea
is about the same as Driyarkara’s statement that education must be built from the
early stage of human life. In addition, Tagore’s relation to Maria Montessori, a person who starts an early child education, affects his idea.
However, there is an irony in this poem as the poet also mentions the world around the child which was chaotic situation. His statement in the poem agrees
with the condition in India in 1913. It was the time when India was the British colony. Indian
people doubt to British’s policy that would make them an PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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independence country. The condition turned into a more serious condition with British’s policy to build school for the sake of their own government. A long time
waiting for independence made the Indian people lost their hope. They despair of their destiny. Such condition forced the Indian to do bad things, a moral
derivation. They chased opportunity to get a better job in British government’s
office as the government officers. Therefore, The Child Angel
implicitly draws Tagore’s expectation on classroom which is conducive for the children. Along with Tagore’s expectation,
Montessori in Palmer, Bresler, Cooper 227 states her idea about a classroom which is able to make one feels safe, secure and loved. Thus, Tagore realizes his
idea in his school in Santiniketan. In this school, the students feel free to learn everywhere.
The last, Tagore expects parents’ participation in child’s development. Tagore draws
his idea using the representation of “bosom”. Child is the part of the family, so the family must love, guide, protect the child, and provide conducive
situation to grow. Driyarkara states the importance of family in chapter two. Driyarkara’s idea is about the same as that of Tagore.
2. Tagore’s View of Education Reflected in When and Why
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