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JAINA SYSTEM OF EDUCATIO
and power in the current politics of the day In this object they suc ceeded pre-eminently
The Art school quite independent of the monasteries imparted instruction to princes and other lay scholars in the seventy two arts The curricula in the art schools were carefully organized on sound psychologial and sociological basis and the teaching in the school was vitally related to the realities of life
The state also co-operated with the art-school in imparting instruc tion to its alumuni Especially in the education of the princes the supervision of the State is clearly perceptible We learn from the Romantic Legend of Sakya Buddha how king Suddhodana the father of Lord Buddha held formal conference with his ministers and how in consulation with them he appointed specialists-Visvamitra to train young Siddhartha in 8 R s and fine arts and Khantadeva to train the young prince in physical and military sciences For physical and military training especially prepared spacious fields were set up in the suburbs of cities for practical training The group and individual instructions were known The physical and military education pre ceded the academic and the fine art classes in the art school Special training-grounds for horse riding must have been used as it is definitely learned from the Jaina literature The education of the princes was based on sound psychological principles and proper balance was main tained between the mind and the body and both the theoretical and the practical education was carried on sunultaneously Sometimes the students of military sciences made demonstration of their skill in the use of the various implements of warfare This resembles the modern performance test as demanded of applicants for admission into voca tional or trade schools
The influence of the State in the education of the prince was especi ally felt in the education of the adult king Thus king Kumarapala of Guzerat who had a chequered career hired a private tutor to train him in his palace after dinner Gradually he mastered the 3 Rs litera tures politics and other sciences and arts demanded of a king
The Art-school as remarked before existed in all the important It is 2 cities towns and in distant regions of the Indian peninsula very ancient institution incidentally referred to by Manu and Brhas pati as an educational institution meant for the non Brahmins. But
