Students get through the MP Board Class 10th English Important Questions Special English Chapter 20 Teaching in the Tolstoy Farm which are most likely to be asked in the exam.
MP Board Class 10th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Teaching in the Tolstoy Farm
I. Answer the following questions in about 25 words:
Question 1.
Why was it not possible for Gandhiji to engage Indian teachers? (Imp.)
Answer:
Qualified Indian teachers were less at that time. If they were available, none of them was ready to work on a small salary. The Tolstoy Farm was at a distance of 21 miles from Johannesburg. So it was not possible to engage Indian teachers.
Question 2.
What was the objective of Gandhiji in setting up Tolstoy Farm? (MP 2009)
Answer:
The objective of Gandhiji in setting up Tolstoy Farm was to find out the true system of education through his personal experience and experiment. He desired to show that true education could be imparted without textbooks through the parents without the least help from outside.
Question 3.
What were the flaws that Gandhiji had to face in the beginning? (Imp.)
Answer:
Gandhiji had to face the following flaws in the beginning:
- The youngsters had not been with him since their childhood.
- They had been brought up in different conditions and environment.
- They did not belong to the same religion.
- There were problems of teachers and lack of funds.
Question 4.
What did Gandhiji give priority to at the Tolstoy Farm?
Answer:
At the Tolstoy farm, Gandhiji gave priority to the culture of the heart. Gandhiji termed it as building of character. He also felt confident that moral training could be given to all alike irrespective of age and upbringing.
Question 5.
Why did Gandhiji regard character building as the proper foundation of education? (MP 2018)
Answer:
Gandhiji regarded character building as the proper foundation of education. He was of the firm belief that the children could learn all the other things themselves if firm foundation is laid.
Question 6.
How did the inmates of Tolstoy Farm get their physical training exercise?
Answer:
The Tolstoy Farm was a community farm. Some people worked in the kitchen. Those who were not engaged in the kitchen had to devote their time in gardening. In this way, they got their physical training exercise.
Question 7.
What were the problems Gandhiji faced in imparting literary training at Tolstoy Farm? How did he manage to overcome these?
Answer:
Gandhiji faced following problems in imparting literary training at Tolstoy Farm:
- He had neither the resources nor the literary equipment.
- He was short of time. Only three periods could be allotted to literary training.
- The pupils were aware of Gandhiji’s ignorance in languages.
Gandhiji managed to overcome the problems by never disguising his ignorance from his pupils. Therefore, he earned their love and respect.
Question 8.
Name the languages and subjects taught at Tolstoy Farm.
Answer:
Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Urdu, English and Sanskrit were the languages taught at Tolstoy Farm. Elementary history, geography and arithmetic were the subjects that were also taught at Tolstoy Farm.
Question 9.
What is the true textbook for a pupil?
Answer:
Gandhiji never felt the want of textbooks. He did not make much use of the available books. He himself had read more by listening to teachers than by reading books. The teacher is the true textbook for a pupil.
Question 10.
‘Schools play a vital role in forming the character of a pupil’. Examine this statement in the light of the method adopted by Gandhiji. (MP 2016)
Answer:
Being the father (Head teacher) of the Farm, Gandhiji lived with the pupils in the Farm. He checked their activities and supervised them at every moment. He acquainted them with the elements of their religions through their own scriptures. Like all schools, the Tolstoy Farm also developed their spirit to build their character.
II. Answer the following questions in about 50 words:
Question 1.
Describe some of the activities that the inmates at Tolstoy Farm took up for physical exercise. (Imp.)
Answer:
The youngsters had to do a lot of work at the Tolstoy Farm. They dug pits, felled timber and lifted loads. There were many fruit trees in the farm. They had to look after them. The inmates did enough gardening also. It was obligatory on all, young and old to give some time to gardening. Only those youngsters were spared who were engaged in the kitchen work. These activities gave them ample physical exercises. Normally through daily routine, they didn’t need other games or exercises.
Question 2.
Explain the vocational training introduced at Tolstoy Farm. (MP 2015)
Answer:
It was Gandhiji’s intention to teach some useful manual vocation to all the youngsters. Therefore, Mr. Kallenbach was sent to Trappist monastery. He learnt shoe making there. When he returned, Gandhiji learnt shoe making from him. Then Gandhiji taught shoe making to those youngsters who were ready to learn it. Kallenbach and another inmate had some experience of carpentry. They had a small class in carpentry at Tolstoy Farm with their help. Almost all the youngsters know cooking.
Question 3.
Describe briefly the innovative methods that Gandhiji introduced at Tolstoy Farm. (Imp.)
Answer:
Gandhiji introduced many innovative methods at Tolstoy Farm. He engaged the youngsters gainfully. The teachers had to stay all time with the pupils. They did everything that was required to be done by the pupils. They acted as role models for the pupils. He did not load the students with books.
He intended to teach every one some useful manual vocation. He started teaching languages so that the pupils could develop communication skills. Moral and spiritual trainings were given besides physical and vocational training.
Question 4.
Describe the problems faced by Gandhiji in Tolstoy Farm. How did he overcome them? (Imp.)
Answer:
Gandhiji was scarce of the resources no one would be prepared to work on a small salary at a long distance. He did not have adequate literary equipment. He had shortage of time. As such he could allot only three periods to literary training. Gandhiji himself had scanty knowledge of languages.
The pupils judged his ignorance. Besides, he could not do full justice to the students belonging to different religions. He had to learn shoe making to teach it to his pupils. He had to stay with the pupils all the time and keep himself disciplined. He overcame all the problems by making self sacrifice and his personal involvement.
Question 5.
How did Gandhiji create interest in his teaching? (MP 2009)
Answer:
Gandhiji tried to create interest in his teaching by imparting vocational training. Gandhiji instead of teaching reading, writing etc, laid stress first on vocational training. He asked children to do what work their teachers did. Though literary training was also given side by side but vocational training created interest in children they were tought farm work and also domestic duties.