Inter-disciplinary Studies at the Maharishi School

The knowledge contained in the 16 Principles of Inter-disciplinary used by the students of Maharishi Schools around the world is simple yet profound.  All 16 Principles highlight the orderliness in nature that enables mathematics and science to be capable of repeatable experimentation, leading to consistent and predictable results.  Importantly it also relates the knowledge back to the student’s own experience to increase the relevance of the subject to the student.

At the primary level children are introduced to these 16 principles that describe the patterns of growth and order in their own lives and in the world around them. Through observation of their world, children explore the range of the expressions of nature.  As a result, they begin to discover the inner, more precious values of life that give rise to all of life’s outer expressions.

For decades educators have recognised that there are levels to the learning experience ranging from superficial learning (knowledge and comprehension) to applied values (application) to the so-called higher-order thinking skills: analysis, synthesis, evaluation.

By grasping universal principles, students see deeper connections between their academic subjects, and the relationship of those subjects with themselves.  Learning gains depth and relevance.

Here’s an example. One of the simple, universal IDS principles is, “Life is found in layers.” It seems self-evident to most of us. Interestingly, students find that concept emerges across the curriculum: in how a bill becomes a law, in the analysis of literary symbolism, in exploring the levels of atomic particles, or in a theorem of mathematics.