When education becomes a race for marks, it is easy to lose sight of compassion, curiosity and the child's own experience. My interest in Tao School of Liberation began with that concern.
This article reflects the approach and facilities described when I wrote about the school in 2018. It is not a current admissions guide or an independent assessment of the school.
What Do We Want Children to Learn?
I worry about an education built around heavy bags, memorisation and grading, with too little attention to feelings, social understanding or the freedom to ask questions. A child is more than a set of marks.
One example that bothered me was the inconsistency in how sharing can be taught. A school might insist that children share food, even when a child is uncomfortable eating it, yet punish a child for forgetting a pencil instead of encouraging a classmate to lend one.
My objection is not to sharing itself. It is to teaching a value by forcing compliance while overlooking a simple chance to practise kindness. Children deserve choices and explanations, not merely instructions.
Learning Through Play
Tao's central idea was that a child's main work is to play. Mathematics, science and other subjects could be introduced through activities that feel approachable and meaningful.
I found that philosophy appealing: learning could grow out of a child's curiosity and everyday experiences.
An Environment That Includes Nature and People
The school described the learning environment as more than a building. It included people, living things, objects and the surrounding landscape.
My account noted a small farm, a pond or stream, and animals such as cows, goats and birds. These features connected learning with elements of village life and traditional practices.
The photographs show play as part of the children's regular routine, rather than simply a break-time activity. What interested me was the space they appeared to have for movement, play and contact with nature.
Curriculum and Facilities Described in 2018
The original account stated that the school followed an ICSE syllabus and offered smart classrooms, a play area and traditional vegetarian meals. Families should verify the school's current curriculum, affiliation and facilities directly before relying on those details.
Although I discussed the wider interest in “unschooling”, that term should not be treated as interchangeable with every school that uses play-based learning. The curriculum claims in this article describe a school setting, and the distinction matters.
The Values I Hope Education Can Encourage
The aims that appealed to me were social responsibility, respect for the natural environment and the development of personal values alongside academic learning.
Education should help children understand themselves and the world around them. For me, the most useful question is whether we are giving them room to grow with curiosity, confidence and consideration for others.
Learning and Play at Tao
