Thursday, December 31, 2009

SCHOOLS



Dear Friends

This is only my thoughts put on paper. Nothing personal.

School is a place where many children study and come out as good human beings out into the world. They are moulded and shaped to fit into society. It is an important stage in a persons life.

When the child is over one the mother and father are worried as to where to admit the child and the documents necessary to put the child into school. They start collecting the papers from this stage onwards. It is a hard job for the parents who are staying on rent or parents who are temporarily in a place. But I am not telling this is a bad idea. But it is a strain on the parent. They have to prepare documents to put the child into a good school. It has to be for the past six years. One way this is a good idea if things are done in the proper way.

Entering the child to a school is a big procedure. I feel that sometimes it is not necessary too because most of them are not genuine. The parents who have the correct papers are rejected and the ones with forged documents are taken into the school. They also charge a high donation which most of the parents find it difficult to pay. Some are not done in the straight way.

Most of the children have the problem of getting a good school due to various problems. Some are man-made problems. Another aspect that I feel not necessary is rating the percentage of the different races. In this way many do not get the closest school.

My idea is that in the future, to maintain peace and harmony in this country is to have all communities studying in the school. They should not differentiate among the races and religions. All should get the same treatment. They should put it into the child's head that there is no Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils and Christians, but that all are SRI LANKANS. They should start this in schools first. Then I think the growing generations will not have communal problems. The country too will benefit from this.

The Principals in the respective schools should understand the culture and the background of the child and go according to that. There are some heads and teachers who force the child to do what they should not do. These things cause a non friendly atmosphere. We all should understand the other ones religion and act accordingly. If PEACE, UNDERSTANDING and HARMONY are maintained in the schools it will carry a long way. The home environment is also important. All should make the world a better place to live in.

I hope that no one takes this personally. I wish that all children are given a good education and background beginning from the home environment to the school environment. All should learn and not misuse the government funds. They should make use of the knowledge they get to do the correct things in life and be useful citizens. I wish all the future generations GOOD LUCK.

Friday, December 25, 2009

AYURVEDA








Ayurveda, the 'science of life is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian Subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words āyus, meaning 'life', and veda, meaning 'related to knowledge' or 'science'. Evolving throughout its history, Ayurveda remains an influential system of medicine in South Asia. The earliest literature of Ayurveda appeared during the Vedic period in India. The Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita were influential works on traditional medicine during this era. Ayurvedic practitioners also identified a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases.

As per Indian heritage and science, "Ayurveda" is an Upaveda or annexure to the four main vedas (knowledge systems). The famous treaties of Ayurveda are Charaka Samhita by Sage Charaka, which details the prevention and treatment of disease, and Sushruta Samhita of Sage Sushruta, which deals with Ayurvedic surgical procedures. In the Ayurvedic system, the prevention of all types of disease has a prominent place in treatment, including restructuring a patient's lifestyle to align with the course of nature and the four seasons to guarantee complete wellness.

Ayurveda is considered to be a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the western world, where several of its methods, such as the use of herbs, massage, and Yoga as exercise or alternative medicine, are applied on their own as a form of CAM treatment.

In SRI LANKA too there are many qualified doctors who know the subject well. They too have their own hospitals and are very famous among many people.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

MUSIC

Music is a form of relaxation to ones mind and body. It plays an important role in a persons life.

There are different types of music. There is the pop, classical, rap, country, and other types. In different countries music varies. It also varies according to ones culture and religion. Different people enjoy a different type of music. In each country they have created their own style and way of enjoying music. At weddings, engagements, parties and other occasions people have music to add beauty to the place.

Although some people are against music, I feel that there is nothing wrong in enjoying music. It is a kind of balm for troubled minds, tired beings, and lonely people. All age groups enjoy music.

The people of Sri Lanka also have a liking towards music. At weddings, birthdays and other parties they have their own way of music to suit the occasion and the people.
To wind up I would like to tell that music is as important as other things in life. All should listen to it and see how it works like a medicine.

Wishing all luck with the coming New Year. Enjoy the day with some good music.

MUSIC IN GENERAL.



Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The word derives from Greek word "mousike"

The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of music vary according to culture and social context. Music ranges from strictly organized compositions (and their recreation in performance), through improvisational music to aleatoric forms. Music can be divided into genres and subgenres, although the dividing lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle, sometimes open to individual interpretation, and occasionally controversial. Within "the arts", music may be classified as a performing art, a fine art, and auditory art.
To many people in many cultures music is an important part of their way of life.

Music is known to be pleasant to the ears. Many people love music as it is a form of healing to the troubles minds.

MUSIC OF SRI LANKA.








The music of Sri Lanka originates in cultural traditions deriving from three influences: the religious practices of Buddhism, the aftereffects of Portuguese colonization, and the commercial and historical influence of Indian culture - specifically, Bollywood cinema. The Theravada sect of Buddhism has influenced Sri Lankan Music since Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka two millennia ago.
Portuguese colonizers arrived centuries after the Buddha, in the mid 1400s, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars; as well as desendants of africa (referred to, historically, as kaffrinhas), who brought with them a style of music now referred to as baila. The people of these two regions, and the musical traditions they brought with them, served to contribute further to the diverse musical roots of modern Sri Lankan music

There are sets of folk poems (kavi) unique to members of different castes (farmers, cart drivers, miners, etc). These originated as a way to pass time for the individual groups as they engaged in their work. Today, they are sung as a form of cultural expression.
Kavi also exists that accompany folk rituals. The rituals are rarely performed today but the songs survive among folk musicians.
Another traditional Sri Lankan folk style is called the virindu. It involves an improvised poem sung to the beaten melody of a rabana. In the past there were contests in which two virindu singers would compete with verse

Western Music

Western classical music has been studied and performed in Sri Lanka since its introduction during the British Colonial period of the 19th century.
Although western music is also offered as a subject at secondary schools and at tertiary level. The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka is one of the oldest western orchestras in South Asia. The foundation of the National Youth Orchestra has helped increase interest and participation more widely in society and among young people outside Colombo. Many Sri Lankans have continued to reach the upper echelons of classical performance, including world renowned cellist Rohan de Saram, pianist Rohan de Silva, and many other composers, organists, and orchestral performers.

Since 1998, Many Pop/R&B groups have emerged in Sri Lanka - the most prominent of which is known as Bathiya and Santhush -- who draw inspiration from the Europop groups that visited the island. Among their accomplishments; they are the first Sri Lankan group to be signed to an international record label (Sony BMG), and were an integral component in the label's entrance into the nation's music industry in 2002/2003. They have received international awards for their compositions, and have performed in several countries - including on BBC radio in the UK. We are very happy and thrilled about them.

Friday, December 18, 2009

LEARNING.





Learning is acquiring new knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, preferences or understanding, and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.

Human learning may occur as part of education or personal development. It may be goal-oriented and may be aided by motivation. The study of how learning occurs is part of neuropsychology, educational psychology, learning theory, and pedagogy. Learning may occur consciously or without conscious awareness. There is evidence for human behavioral learning prenatally, in which habituation has been observed as early as 32 weeks into gestation, indicating that the central nervous system is sufficiently developed and primed for learning and memory to occur very early on in development.

Play has been approached by several theorists as the first form of learning. Children play, experiment with the world, learn the rules, and learn to interact. Play is pivotal for children's development, since they make meaning of their environment through play.

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION AND YOUNG MINDS.






Dear Friends

This is only my thoughts put on paper. Nothing personal.

School is a place where many children study and come out as good human beings out into the world. They are moulded and shaped to fit into society. It is an important stage in a persons life.

When the child is over one the mother and father are worried as to where to admit the child and the documents necessary to put the child into school. They start collecting the papers from this stage onwards. It is a hard job for the parents who are staying on rent or parents who are temporarily in a place. But I am not telling this is a bad idea. But it is a strain on the parent. They have to prepare documents to put the child into a good school. It has to be for the past six years. One way this is a good idea if things are done in the proper way.

Entering the child to a school is a big procedure. I feel that sometimes it is not necessary too because most of them are not genuine. The parents who have the correct papers are rejected and the ones with forged documents are taken into the school. They also charge a high donation which most of the parents find it difficult to pay. Some are not done in the straight way.

Most of the children have the problem of getting a good school due to various problems. Some are man-made problems. Another aspect that I feel not necessary is rating the percentage of the different races. In this way many do not get the closest school.

My idea is that in the future, to maintain peace and harmony in this country is to have all communities studying in the school. They should not differentiate among the races and religions. All should get the same treatment. They should put it into the child's head that there is no Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils and Christians, but that all are SRI LANKANS. They should start this in schools first. Then I think the growing generations will not have communal problems. The country too will benefit from this.

The Principals in the respective schools should understand the culture and the background of the child and go according to that. There are some heads and teachers who force the child to do what they should not do. These things cause a non friendly atmosphere. We all should understand the other ones religion and act accordingly. If PEACE, UNDERSTANDING and HARMONY are maintained in the schools it will carry a long way. The home environment is also important. All should make the world a better place to live in.

I hope that no one takes this personally. I wish that all children are given a good education and background beginning from the home environment to the school environment. All should learn and not misuse the government funds. They should make use of the knowledge they get to do the correct things in life and be useful citizens. I wish all the future generations GOOD LUCK.


EDUCATION AND YOUNG MINDS.

Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 3:31pm | Edit Note | Delete
I feel that all the children in this world have the right to education. It should be given on a fair scale. In our country there is free education which many people are not making use of. Some parents do not like to put their children to school. As a teacher i would like to encourage all parents to put their children to school at the correct age. Every child learns from the day it is conceived. It is inside the womb but it learns. Then when it is out, the child looks at pictures and learn. They learn the colors, names and shapes. A child should be put into a Montessori at the age of 2 1/2, but many parents do not do this. They think that the child is small and just leave it to play and run around without giving it the correct backing. Its a shame. Many do not understand the point that the child s mind is open from the age zero to five years. They take in all that happens around them. They can learn faster. This is a stage where even their surroundings have to be good. The home front has to be good. There should be a calm and clean environment.

Another important factor that I want to tell all is that the child s first stage is at home, the second stage is at school. This is the next place that the child has to be treated well. Where the teachers should understand the mental situation of the child, their behaviour, their thoughts, specially the age gap. Otherwise the child s life will turn into a disaster. This we have seen at many schools. All schools should give a chance to all children from all races and religions. They should not look at them differently. Then this will lead to peace in the country too.

I hope this does not make many angry. This is just a thought. What I feel I wrote. Thanks for reading this.