Education as Service

Though many people may think the ideals put forward are entirely beyond the average
teacher, and cannot be put into practice in ordinary schools, I can thus point at least to one
institution in which I have seen many of the suggestions made in this book actually carried
out. It may be that some of them are, at present, beyond most schools; but they will be
recognised and practised as soon as teachers realise them as desirable, and have a proper
understanding of the importance of their office.
Most of the recommendations apply, I think, to all countries, and to all religions, and are
intended to sound the note of our common brotherhood, irrespective of religion or caste, race
or colour. If the unity of life and the oneness of its purpose could be clearly taught to the
young in schools, how much brighter would be our hopes for the future! The mutual distrust
of races and nations would disappear, if the children were trained in mutual love and
sympathy as members of one great family of children all over the world, instead of being
taught to glory only in their own traditions and to despise those of others. true patriotism is a
beautiful quality in children, for it means unselfishness of purpose and enthusiasm for great
ideals; but that is false patriotism which shows itself in contempt for other nations. There are,
I am told, many organisations within the various nations of the world, intended to inspire the
children with a love for their country and a desire to serve her, and that is surely good; but I
wonder when there will be an international organisation to give the children of all nations
common ideals also, and a knowledge of the real foundation of right action, the Brotherhood
of Man.
J. KRISHNAMURTI