Poems with Educational Insights

I often wonder whether books and/or technology are the only tools for learning. Certainly not. There are many other resources, experiences, instances, which teach us life’s greatest lessons. True. Not denied. But here, I would like to throw some light on a few English poems (there could be many more. Obviously of course.) that deal in a great way with the purpose of education. Though each poem deals with one/few experience(s) but put them all together we (at least I) got the purpose of education (not exhaustive though).

The order of the poems is just random. It does not in any way show their order of importance as all are gems for me as they are quite distinct but unique in the message that they convey.

I’ll start with my favourite poem ‘Where the mind is without fear’ by Sri Rabindranath Tagore. This poem speaks about the quality of the mind that we all need to cultivate or bring about. Unfortunately, many schools, teachers resort to ‘Fear’ as the chief method to bring about discipline in school. Can we free our minds from fear and give true freedom to it. Can we allow the clear stream of reason to flow without any obstacle? Why are we destroying ourselves with narrow domestic walls?

Next poem is ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling. The title of the poem is very short – just two letters. But the message it gives will be enough to last a life time. The poem tells us about the qualities that we need to instill in children and how to make them become strong ‘Men’ (applies to females as well). 

Next poem is ‘I wonder’ by Jeannie Kirby. This poem talks about the quality of questioning or enquiry that we need to inculcate in children. Unfortunately, many teachers do not like their students ask questions. They either shun them or snub them.

Poem ‘Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost is another poem which tells us to enjoy the life but yet not stop the journey of life ….and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep.

‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost is yet another powerful poem with good educational insight. We all agree that education is a creative and innovative process but still we hesitate to take risks, try something new, explore the uncharted waters and encourage the children to follow the beaten track. But the poet here shares his joy, excitement when he took the road less traveled instead of following the beaten down track.

I will conclude this short write-up with an interesting poem ‘Leisure’ by William H Davis. This poem is nearly a century old but still as aptly applicable today as it was then. The poet literally criticizes the busy life and goes on to state that the sheep or cows are far better than us. We do not have time for trees, birds, rivers, sun shine, rain and so on. What are we busy for?

I have not given the complete meaning of the poems intentionally for that might inspire you to go and enjoy the poems word to word.