Important Questions: Sociology, Philosophy and Psychology

Q1. What is the importance of value education in the present era? (long)
Understanding Value Education
Value education is more than just imparting knowledge; it is about instilling a set of core
values and principles in students that guide their behavior, choices, and actions
throughout their lives.
These values include honesty, respect, empathy, responsibility, integrity, and more. The
primary goal of value-based education is to cultivate not just knowledgeable individuals
but also morally upright citizens who contribute positively to society.
Importance of Value-Based Education
Character Building: Value-based education is instrumental in character building. It helps
students develop a strong sense of right and wrong, promoting qualities such as honesty,
integrity, and empathy. These qualities are not only important for personal growth but
also for building a harmonious and compassionate society.
Ethical Decision Making: In today’s complex world, ethical dilemmas are
commonplace. Value education equips students with the skills to make ethical decisions,
even in challenging situations. It encourages critical thinking and a deep understanding
of the consequences of one’s actions.
Respect for Diversity: In a globalized world where diversity is celebrated, it’s crucial to
foster respect for people from different backgrounds and cultures. Value-based education
promotes tolerance and acceptance, teaching students to appreciate diversity and work
collaboratively with others.
Empathy and Compassion: Value education teaches students to be compassionate and
empathetic towards others. These qualities are essential for building strong interpersonal
relationships and addressing social issues effectively.
Leadership and Responsibility: Leaders with strong moral values are the need of the
hour. Value-based education nurtures leadership qualities grounded in ethics and
responsibility, ensuring that future leaders prioritize the greater good over personal gain.
Conflict Resolution: Conflict is inevitable, but value education equips students with
conflict resolution skills. They learn to resolve disputes peacefully, fostering a more
harmonious and cooperative society.
Stress Reduction: Understanding and practicing values such as patience and resilience
can significantly reduce stress levels among students. It, in turn, leads to better mental
health and improved academic performance.

Modern India is during a revival of age-old traditions where value-based education or

moral learning is making a comeback, in a big way. Therefore, every parent today strives
to provide the best education for children that’s not just confined to books but leads to
their holistic development. For them, both academics, as well as value education, is
essential.
Through value education, we can develop strong character and values among children
thereby enabling them to use their knowledge for the benefit of all. Therefore, schools
and other educational institutions are realizing the significance of value education and are
making it an intrinsic part of their curriculums. The role of schools in providing moral
education or value-based education cannot be overstated.
 Value-based education and modern education system:
The value-based education teaches students how to face the outer world with the right
attitude and principles and develops the overall personality of the students. Historically,
the Gurukul system of education was founded on moral values and teachings. Young
children were introduced to values such as honesty, kindness, importance of telling truth,
helping others and many such values here. India’s Panchatantra stories and related
cartoons and animations are rooted in value education. Value education creates a
roadmap for the future life of young students which revolves around building ethical and
moral values to have a more meaningful life besides ensuring that they have a strong
character.

Need for value-based education in the school of Humanities, Languages & Social
Sciences:
Through value education, the children choose to distinguish between right and wrong,
take risks and handle challenges. It also encourages a sense of responsibility, positivity
and eventually, more mindful behavior that springs from a sense of self-awareness.
Instilling humane values: Kindness, empathy, collaboration, compassion are some of
the key values that are instilled among young learners when exposed to value education.
These values are critical because they help the students to become responsible citizens
and change makers who will not only decide their own future but of the community,
nation & the planet for a harmonious future.

Social responsibility and a sense of well-being: When students are more aware of how
their actions will impact others, they are more responsible in their actions and ensure that
they have a collaborative mindset which is open to diversity and feedback. This not only
leads to their overall growth but also leads to the development of their emotional and
physical well-being.
Positive impact in school-life and classroom: Students exposed to value education tend
to be more discipline- oriented and follow rules like cooperating with their classmates,
respecting others and handling all situations with calmness among others.
Develops a positive view of life: Value education develops a positive view of life in the
student’s mind.

Q2. What are the fundamental principles of Montessori method? Who gave this
method?
It was developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori.
Montessori is a scientifically based education approach that emphasizes independence,
freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and
social development.
Montessori education is based on the belief that all children are unique individuals, that
they all have immense potential, that they want to learn and be busy. Therefore the
teacher needs to guide each child through the learning process by using materials that fit
their specific needs and pace.
FREE CHOICE
 Children are free to make many more decisions than are children in traditional
classrooms: what to work on, how long to work on it, with whom to work on it, and so
on.
ORDER
Montessori classrooms are very organised, both physically (in terms of lay-out) and
conceptually (in terms of how the use of materials progresses).
INTEREST
Children (and yes, adults, too) learn better when they are interested in what they are
learning.
LEARNING FROM PEERS
Younger children learn from older ones by asking them questions while watching them
work. Older children who are teaching younger children repeat and consolidate their
knowledge and skills and obtain social skills.
MOVEMENT
Movement and cognition are closely interlinked. Education, therefore, would involve
movement to enhance learning.
CONTEXT
Rather than learning largely from what teachers and texts say to them, children in
Montessori programmes learn largely by doing. For example, children go out of the
classroom and into the world to research their interests.
TEACHER GUIDANCE
Montessori teachers provide clear limits but set children free within these boundaries.
They sensitively respond to children’s needs while maintaining high expectations.
Q3. How human resource development and education are related?
Education gives the ability to think with reason, pursue dreams and aspirations in life
And live a respectable life in society. Education also plays an important role in the
development of human resource. When a person receives good education it improves his
or her level of understanding increases their capacity and mental efficiency. A country
with high proportion of well educated people can achieve rapid economic growth.
Human resource development helps organizations improve employee performance and
ability.
Education is an investment in human capital formation and hence, plays a crucial role in
the economic growth and development of a nation. According to the World Bank,
increasing the average years of schooling by one year can increase a country’s GDP
growth by 0.37%.

Q4. What are the main provisions of education in Indian constitution?

Constitutional Provisions have exercised a direct as well as indirect bearing on education
at different stages. The various constitutional provisions regarding education in India are
according to our social, economic, cultural and political needs.

The constitution of India provides for the following main areas of education in the country:
1. Right of free and compulsory education
2. Right to education
3. Education for women
4. Promotion of education and economic interests of SC, ST and other weaker sections
5. Religious education
6. Education of minorities, protection of interests of minorities
7. Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
8. Instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage
9. Promotion of Hindi
10. Education in union territories
11. Fundamental duty to provide opportunity for education

Q5. Describe curriculum according to Plato?

Plato advocated for a curriculum that included sports and music in addition to knowledge
acquisition. His theory also included critical thinking and application of knowledge where
scholars will meet and debate issues as well as student centered learning where students are
accorded the opportunity to learn at their pace and ability. There is also the concept of
education emphasis on morality and being ethical by those exposed to it.
Plato regards education as a means to achieve justice, both individual justice and social justice.
According to Plato, individual justice can be obtained when each individual develops his or her
ability to the fullest. In this sense, justice means excellence.

Q6. State major characteristics of Indian Philosophy.

Rationality.
All the schools insists that no account of reality which fails to do justice to reason and
experience can be accepted.

Philosophies of life
All the systems maintain that every acceptable philosophy should aid man in realizing
the chief ends of human life .

Spirituality . All the systems of philosophy acknowledge man’s essential spirituality ,

regards freedom and demand that philosophy show him the way to attain freedom.

Liberation through knowledge . Accordingly , freedom and liberation can only be won
by conquering ignorance through knowledge

Yoga as a common factor . All the systems accept Yoga in some form or other as the
spiritual discipline par excellence for the attainment of freedom .
man not material entity only . All the schools emphatically reject as absurd any
suggestion that man is nothing but a material entity .
In short , Indian schools of philosophy categorically reject philosophies of the absurd ,
Indian philosophy is based upon psychological facts .

Q7. Fundamental Principles of basic education.

Basic education is the foundation of an individual’s academic, social, and economic
development. It is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes
 required for personal fulfillment and active participation in society. The principles of
basic education are:
Access to basic education is a fundamental human right, and every individual should
have the opportunity to participate in the educational process.
Basic education should be distributed equally to all individuals, irrespective of their race,
gender, socio-economic status, religion, or location.

Basic education should be relevant to the needs of learners and society. The curriculum
should be designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required
to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Basic education should be inclusive of all learners, including those with disabilities,
special needs, or marginalized groups.

Q8. In what form should value education be imparted in schools? As a teacher what
precautions will you take while giving value education? (Long)
Value development in the school depends on the curricular content, how teachers
organize and transact it. Values and moral learning also occurs from the teacher-student
interaction, the extent of discipline exercised, and teacher reactions to student behavior.
Teachers share values with students through

Integration of value in the teaching-learning process

Moral education is taught frequently as a separate subject.

There is, however, a growing trend to regard all teachers as teachers of Value Oriented
Education and all school subjects and activities as lending themselves to the formation of
values.

Two basic approaches -direct and indirect (curricular and non-curricular) are adopted to
impart value education.
The direct (curricular) approach includes the isolated subject approach and the
integrated subject approach. The trend is towards integrating values with all school
subjects. It includes discussions, lecture, seminars during the teaching-learning process.
This method makes a formal environment of gaining value education that may be
become boredom or student may lose the attention in between.

The indirect approaches supplement the efforts made through direct approaches. The
importance of science clubs, exhibitions, museums, quiz programmes, reflective sessions,
field trips etc. are stressed. This method is more flexible and effective than the direct
method.
Hence, The best way for providing value education is through mentoring/reflective
sessions on values.
Role of the teacher in cultivating basic human values in the students is indispensable. He
Should necessarily be not only a good educator but a good person possessing basic moral
and Aesthetic values. He provides models-good or bad – of behaviour for his students. As
 an educator He should possess professional competence, reading habit, should be a
constant learner and Innovative. As a human being he should be a man of simple habits,
regular and punctual in his Duty, truthful, honest, kind and self confident. He should be
commanding respect for himself and Respecting others. He should be able to develop
concern for nationalism, environment and Integration in the students and should foster
basic values of democracy, rule of law, social justice and humanity enshrined in the
Constitution of India.

Q9. Write a note on Philosophy and science.

Philosophy has always sought to understand the nature of truth and knowledge, and has
often engaged with the findings of science in this pursuit [1]. Science, on the other hand,
has benefited from philosophical inquiry by providing a framework for understanding
and interpreting its own discoveries [2]. Philosophy of science specifically focuses on
describing and understanding how science operates, including its methodology, theories,
and the role of causality [3]. Additionally, philosophy of science contributes to
philosophy itself by providing a practical and empirical foundation for philosophical
theories and practices.
Philosophy and science are interdependent, with philosophy providing a broader context
and framework for scientific inquiry, and science offering empirical evidence and
insights that inform philosophical understanding.

Q10. What do you mean by good for all?

Socrates believed that the ultimate goal of human existence is not just to live but to live a
good, meaningful and virtuous life.
It plays a central role in philosophical reflection about the public and private dimensions
of social life.

Q11. Prove that education is an investment?

Education is a good investment because it provides knowledge, skills, and abilities for
success. As a result, you feel confident in different situations. You can gain social skills,
problem-solving abilities, increased self-awareness, and personal growth because of
education.
Education is a great investment - which is why we invest in students and schools
around the world. By equipping kids to go to school and schools to teach well, we are
investing in the future of individuals and communities, creating lasting change for those
in need.

Q12. What are the main sources of value development?

Family – Family is the prime and most important source of obtaining values. Every
child learns some values from his family since his childhood and retains those values in
his mind throughout his life. The ways the parents nurture, educate and raise their child
shape his personality and inculcate values in him.
Society – After family, society also plays a major role developing value system of an
individual. Every child learn basic manners and discipline from the school. Besides
 schools and colleges, other groups of society such as religious groups, economic and
political groups to which an individual belongs also affect value system of an individual.
Life experiences – Man learns most from his own experiences and sometimes from
experiences of others too. The values which an individual learns from own
experiences of life are relatively long lasting and difficult to change.
Constitution – Almost, all the existing constitutions of various countries highlight the
values of democracy, equality and world peace.

Q13. Discuss social equality and social stratification?

Social stratification refers to a society’s categorization of its people into rankings based
on factors like wealth, income, education, family background, and power.

Social equality is a state of affairs in which all individuals within society have equal
rights, liberties, and status, possibly including civil rights, freedom of expression,
autonomy, and equal access to certain public goods and social services.

Q14. Discuss class and caste as social determinants of education.

A person’s Class is based on social status, wealth and power acquired, level of education
and other achievements.
Castes are perceived as hereditary groups with a fixed ritual status according to Max
Weber’s phraseology
A person belonging to certain caste had to follow certain traditions, rituals and customs
in the past.
The relationship between caste and education has shown how caste functions as a system
of exclusion that denies education to the lower caste and Dalits.

Q15. Describe the efforts made for eradication of untouchability.

Steps taken by the government to eradicate untouchability:

Reservations for members of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in different spheres of public
life.

 The Constitution abolished untouchability (Article 17) which means is that no one can
prevent Dalits from educating themselves, entering temples, using public facilities etc. It
also means that it is wrong to practise untouchability and that this practice will not be
tolerated by a democratic government. In fact, untouchability is a punishable crime now.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes (NCST) were set up to investigate and monitor all matters related to
safeguarding the provisions for SC/ST under the Constitution and evaluating the working
of those safeguards.

Q16. What is the role of a teacher in linking school with society?

They pass on knowledge, foster critical thinking skills, inspire students and parents, serve
as role models, and play a role in the holistic development of children. Teachers are also
 promoters of peace, motivators for pursuing dreams, and builders of communities,
thereby influencing society positively.
teachers are not there just to convey knowledge, but also to educate children by instilling
moral principles and values in them. In other words, the teacher teaches, but also
educates.

Q17. What is human rights education?

Human Rights Education is all about equipping people with the knowledge, skills and
values to recognize, claim and defend their rights.
Human rights education needs to be part of education that can lead to the development of
human values and responsibilities.
Education is necessary to develop human personality and it is helpful to strength human
rights & fundamental freedom of the individual.

Q18. Explain different modes of teaching in ancient and modern times. Importance of
different modes of teaching their advancement over time? (long)
From the time of Rigveda onwards, our ancient education system
evolved over the period and focused on the holistic development of the individual by
taking care of both the inner and the outer self.
The system focused on the moral, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects of life. It
emphasised on values such as humility,truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance and respect
for all creations.
Students were taught to appreciate the balance between human beings and nature.
Education system Focused both on learning and physical development. In other words,
The emphasis was on healthy mind and healthy body.
In ancient India, both formal and informal ways of education system Existed. Indigenous
education was imparted at home, in temples, Pathshalas, Gurukuls
Students went to viharas and universities for higher knowledge.
Teaching was largely oral and students remembered and meditated upon what was taught
in the class.
The main objective was to have complete learning, leading a disciplined life and realising
one's inner potential.
MODERN EDUCATION
Teaching methods are techniques that educators can use to facilitate the teaching process
and help students feel engaged and interested in the material.
Lecture-based learning
A traditional way to structure classroom learning is the lecture format, in which teachers
explain information while students observe

Technology-based learning
Teachers can use technology in the classroom to make teaching processes more efficient
and aid in student learning. Students can use devices like computers and tablets to read
materials, conduct research or play educational games.
Group learning
 Segmenting students into groups is a great way to teach them skills in collaboration.
While in their teams, they can discuss subjects and learn about the perspectives of others.

Inquiry-based learning
Inquiry-based learning promotes the idea of learning by investigation, where students can
complete projects, ask questions and find answers by themselves.

Expeditionary learning
Expeditionary learning is the process of learning through participating in practical
experiences. These can be projects, case studies or lab experiments in the classroom or
field trips to places around your school and community.

IMPORTANCE
Teaching your students effectively:
Planning your educational content:
Finding the best ways to connect with your students:

Q19. How have the teaching methods in schools changed from previous years?
Webinars for teachers with certificates in India, teacher workshops, teacher training
workshops, teacher training institute, teacher training, online teaching courses in India.
Teaching style of educators has evolved over the years. Interactive methods of teaching
have swiped the old methods and its good impact is very well visible. The method of
teaching the students according to their understanding ability provides an entirely
different angle of teaching and learning. Teachers today are able to use new age
experiential learning techniques which are suitable for multiple intelligences, based on
the fact that every child learns differently and in a unique way. In previous years a ‘one
size fits all’ methodology was used when it came to teaching. Teachers are able to teach
the curriculum in ways that would have seemed crazy several years ago. Differentiated
instruction helps teachers to cater to students across varied ability ranges. This leads to an
improvement in children’s engagement in class, acts as a motivator for students to learn
better and leads to job satisfaction for the teacher based on student outcomes.

School teaching has evolved from being a passive learning based on one-way
communication to a more hands on classroom where teachers are facilitators.

Q20. What are the different obstacles in the path of national integration?
National integration refers to the integration of the people of a state into an
emotionally and psychologically integrated team, a nation committed to secure the
objectives and development of the whole society.
Communalism: Communalism is not believing in any particular religion or
observing its rites. Excessive affinity to one’s own religion transforms into hatred
towards other religions.
Casteism
Religionalism
Linguism
Extremism : Extremism is the act of spreading fear by threatening the people throughillegal
means to obtain selfish interests. It ignores human values.