Gurukulam
Welcome!
Welcome!
Starting this upcoming academic year (2023-24), Agastya Gurukulam is starting its fourth year of online home-school in pursuit of its vision of decolonized Indic education. Agastya Gurukulam registration for the 2023-24 academic year is now OPEN !
Starting this upcoming academic year (2023-24), Agastya Gurukulam is starting its fourth year of online home-school in pursuit of its vision of decolonized Indic education. Agastya Gurukulam registration for the 2023-24 academic year is now OPEN !
Through this school, we attempt to revive the traditional Bharateeya method of education that flourished in the pre-Macaulay era across India (see Education System in Ancient India and The Beautiful Tree to learn about the amazing indigenous education system).
Through this school, we attempt to revive the traditional Bharateeya method of education that flourished in the pre-Macaulay era across India (see Education System in Ancient India and The Beautiful Tree to learn about the amazing indigenous education system).
Our Philosophy
Our Philosophy
The traditional sequence of teaching begins with memorization centric instruction for the first few years, followed by logic centric education in the second phase and a rhetoric level of education that focuses on research and self-expression. We plan to follow such a sequence of progression in the school.
The traditional sequence of teaching begins with memorization centric instruction for the first few years, followed by logic centric education in the second phase and a rhetoric level of education that focuses on research and self-expression. We plan to follow such a sequence of progression in the school.
Secular Bharateeya education no longer survives in practice. Hence there is only an incomplete body of knowledge available on the curriculum and the teaching methods of the traditional system. We are attempting to revive this based on research into written records, but this curriculum may contain gaps that need to be filled with age-appropriate modern syllabus and techniques.
Secular Bharateeya education no longer survives in practice. Hence there is only an incomplete body of knowledge available on the curriculum and the teaching methods of the traditional system. We are attempting to revive this based on research into written records, but this curriculum may contain gaps that need to be filled with age-appropriate modern syllabus and techniques.
All classes will be held online, with planned biannual camps (when the pandemic situation permits) to augment the school experience. The school day will start with the study and practice of Yoga, and continue into the other subjects. We will provide approximately 4 hours of tele-instruction a day, and parents must be willing to put in significant time to help their children complete work assigned to them. There are likely to be some changes in the initial phase as teachers and students settle into this (traditional, yet for us) novel format of education.
All classes will be held online, with planned biannual camps (when the pandemic situation permits) to augment the school experience. The school day will start with the study and practice of Yoga, and continue into the other subjects. We will provide approximately 4 hours of tele-instruction a day, and parents must be willing to put in significant time to help their children complete work assigned to them. There are likely to be some changes in the initial phase as teachers and students settle into this (traditional, yet for us) novel format of education.
As this is a virtual gurukulam, parents play a very important role in ensuring that traditional gurukulam discipline is maintained at home. This also includes ensuring that they follow the traditional dinacharya – i.e. complete their morning bath and panchamahayagnas prior to the start of class everyday. Movie- or television-watching should be strictly limited, and when permitted, should not include any shows that teach values that conflict with dharma. Later in the year, we will post engaging video links with gurukulam-appropriate content for children to watch for “TV time”, if necessary. The school will close for major Indic festivals. We will also celebrate some of these festivals at school.
As this is a virtual gurukulam, parents play a very important role in ensuring that traditional gurukulam discipline is maintained at home. This also includes ensuring that they follow the traditional dinacharya – i.e. complete their morning bath and panchamahayagnas prior to the start of class everyday. Movie- or television-watching should be strictly limited, and when permitted, should not include any shows that teach values that conflict with dharma. Later in the year, we will post engaging video links with gurukulam-appropriate content for children to watch for “TV time”, if necessary. The school will close for major Indic festivals. We will also celebrate some of these festivals at school.
Enrollment
Enrollment
This will be an elementary and middle school, and students would either enter mainstream high schools, or continue home schooling by parents after graduation from middle school.
This will be an elementary and middle school, and students would either enter mainstream high schools, or continue home schooling by parents after graduation from middle school.
This would NOT be a supplementary school for a child to attend in addition to a regular school as the double workload would be too heavy. Those who are looking for complementary classes in Samskritam, Bharateeya itihasa etc. are referred to other Agastya Gurukulam programs like Kutoohalam, Jignasa, and Pragna.
This would NOT be a supplementary school for a child to attend in addition to a regular school as the double workload would be too heavy. Those who are looking for complementary classes in Samskritam, Bharateeya itihasa etc. are referred to other Agastya Gurukulam programs like Kutoohalam, Jignasa, and Pragna.
We will admit children who are able to sit and pay attention to online teaching for the requisite number of hours. Typically this would be at 5 or 6 years of age but may vary from child to child.
We will admit children who are able to sit and pay attention to online teaching for the requisite number of hours. Typically this would be at 5 or 6 years of age but may vary from child to child.
We may be able to offer a limited number of spots for “part-timers” i.e. home-schooled children who wish to attend individual subject classes. Siblings of current students would get preference for enrollment.
We may be able to offer a limited number of spots for “part-timers” i.e. home-schooled children who wish to attend individual subject classes. Siblings of current students would get preference for enrollment.