Philosophy
Jiddu Krishnamurti was one of the twentieth century’s most searching thinkers on education, consciousness, and what it means to be human. Through his meditations on education, he established the idea that true education cannot be separated from self-knowledge.
At ELC, Krishnamurti’s influence is subtle and pervasive. It appears in the quality of silence we protect. In the questions teachers decline to answer on behalf of children. In the refusal to reduce a child’s worth to their academic results.
Weekly reflection sessions, open dialogue periods, and the school’s broader culture of inquiry are all expressions of this inheritance.
“The highest function of education is to bring about an integrated individual who is capable of dealing with life as a whole.”
— JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI
A developed sense of self can help children navigate complex ideas like morality at a young age and balance their curiosity with empathy.
Reflections from a teacher at ELC
“As a teacher, I have been trained to present concepts in a scientific and structured way. Yet it was the children who showed me that even when something is scientific and logical, it is worth questioning. While presenting the parts of a plant, the first question they asked me was why we needed to uproot a healthy plant at all.”