Aamir Khan: Teach children to be caring

Updated on: Monday, July 20, 2009

Mumbai: Too much competition has taken away the humanitarian aspect from school children, who seem to be lost in the race of mathematical calculations and report cards, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan said on Saturday as he participated in an interactive session with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the 140-year-old St Xaviers' College for an interactive session here on Saturday.

"Today, students are mostly focusing on memorising their subjects because they have to face questions like 'Did you come first?" How much did you score in mathematics?'" Khan pointed out.

"I would like to hear teachers telling students, 'Hey, your friend is weak in this subject, would you help him?'"

"This will incorporate the feeling of sharing and caring among students and will help in making them good individuals. We should teach our kids to be caring," he added.

Khan also emphasised on the fact that today's education system hardly encourages children to ask questions.

"Sadly, more emphasis is given to report cards and less on exploring minds," Khan explained.

"We should encourage those minds that are thirsty and hungry for knowledge. Children who believe in questioning, searching, disagreeing and not just memorising and cramming should be appreciated," he added.

In his directorial debut "Taare Zameen Par", the actor had essayed the story of an eight-year-old dyslexic boy and how a teacher, played by Aamir, helps him emerge out of his shell.

Aamir Khan: Teach children to be caring

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