Integral School – The Integral School

A conscious attempt at evolving newer ways of learning and thinking, at The Integral School children learn more by doing, observing and reflecting.
Founded in 2012, The Integral School brings fruition to a long-cherished aspiration to have an integral school as articulated by Sri Aurobindo and based on the deepest principles of Indian spiritual wisdom of Integral Yoga (Sri Aurobindo). Every pathway to learning at Integral is interdisciplinary and envisioned as nurturing the spirit of enquiry, exploration, research and self-mastery.

The Integral School is an attempt at going beyond structured schooling into the joyful freedom of inner growth. Through a single project the child often trains the body, mind and intellect, awakens the psychic being (soul-being), and learns language, mathematics, science and other topical or need (of the child) based subjects. A shift from pedagogies of discipline and conformity to freedom and choice would then be the defining characteristics of an Integral school. In its holistic and integrated vision, would work towards an integration of life, for the children and facilitators alike.

The objectives of the school are:

We follow the integral education thought as given to us by Sri Aurobindo & The Mother. This system is called integral because it addresses the whole being. We aim to educate not only the body, emotions, and intellect but also to connect these with our divine essence, the psychic being, called the Chaitya Purusa. Unlike holistic education, integral education sees the head, hands, and heart as interconnected instruments. A child is a complete being with a head, heart, senses, body, soul, and cosmos. The Integral School (TIS) and Integral education is not to be confused with holistic education.

Physical
Space

Experiences

Physical Space One of the many things that makes us unique is our Centre. Here, children learn in a natural environment that is open to exploration. With a design style that symbolises the “integral” philosophy, it features sustainable materials.  

In the Integral education scheme of things, environment is critical in the building of an Integral school. The architecture and the environment of the school will have a direct impact on the shaping of the personality of the children and their psyche.

For that matter, it will shape the psyche of anyone who will be a part of the school. It is about creating a psychophysical environment, simply because the psychological elements of the environment are inseparable from the physical. An Integral school enables real-life learning. So, whether it is an extension of classrooms to outdoors, recycling areas, frog ponds, kitchen gardens, building solar kitchens, learning spaces for children, or an outdoor lab, it finally culminates in a learning matrix — or what may be termed as a learn-scape.

Nature has the capacity to nurture. A learning environment must be, and truly be, wedded to all the universal constituent elements of nature. And because they are universal, they are deeply related to the human psyche. These elements are: Earth, Space, Air, Fire, and Water — symbolizing stability, freedom, movement and mobility, illumination, knowledge and power, flexibility, fluidity, and creativity.

Experiences

Physical
Space

Experiences

Curriculum and Core Elements

Integral Learning

A learner is a unique, complex and evolving individual who needs an education that acknowledges their unique-ness and complexity.

It stems from a holistic, non-reductionist and integral understanding of the human nature.

Development and refinement of all the five senses for an accurate perception.

pyschic

The psychic (chaitya purusa)

is the inmost soul being and

the soul-nature. The discovery of the psychic and identification with it are the chief aspects of psychic education.

Control & discipline of body functions, a total methodical and harmonious development of all the parts and movements of the body and rectification of any defects and deformities are the three principal aspects of physical education.

The vital (from Latin word vitalis, vita meaning life) is the dynamo powering the body with life force It is also the seat of desires, passions, feelings and sensations. The training of the senses and the transformation of the character are the two principal aspects of vital education.

The training of faculties, namely, observation, attention, concentration, memory, judgement, and imagination are the chief aspects of mental education along with thought control and developing mental silence

The Integral Scheme of Learning

Project work at The Integral School

Life at the School

The school provides transport on specific routes. Lunch is served in the school. The school does not have any uniforms.

Time & Activity

9:00 am to 10:00 am

Arrive and physical education

10 am to 10:30 am

Fruit & Quiet time

10:30 am to 12:30 PM

Project work / Study

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Lunch and free to play

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Skill based activity Subject specific activity

3:00 PM

School Ends

People

The Integral School is guided by individuals deeply committed to initiating necessary changes in how we raise and educate our children. This endeavour, led by a small group, aims not to push children into conformity or shape them into industrial or corporate moulds, nor to blindly follow any social conventions. Instead, it seeks to enable them to develop their unique inner beauty and grants them the freedom to choose their path of evolution in alignment with their innate nature, svabhava. 

The initiative explores how this evolutionary vision and life philosophy can translate into educational psychology and pedagogy, ultimately transforming the schools and societies in which we reside.