Touran Mirhadi and Her Teachings for Educating Generation Z
After graduating, Touran Mirhadi began teaching in schools and soon realized that children’s educational needs extended beyond the curriculum, so she decided to undertake more activities in this field. In 1965, along with a group of writers and cultural activists, she founded the ‘Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults’. The Institute quickly became one of the country’s important cultural centers, and Mirhadi played a key role in its formation. Mirhadi believed that by establishing the Institute, a space would be created where children could think freely, create, and express their feelings.
Mirhadi’s works include stories, articles, and educational books, which always emphasize the importance of creativity, critical thinking, and respect for children. Touran Khanom also stressed the importance of literature as a tool for teaching moral, social, and cultural concepts, because she believed that stories could help children become familiar with life’s challenges and issues and find solutions for them. She believed that literature could help foster critical thinking in children. By reading stories and getting to know different characters, children could strengthen their analytical and judgmental abilities.
Touran Khanom’s educational philosophy was based on respect for the child and belief in their abilities. She believed that every child should be recognized as an independent and valuable individual and always emphasized that education should be designed based on children’s needs and interests to unleash their creativity. Her teachings remain a source of inspiration for many working in education.
Mirhadi sought to create a creative and innovative educational environment by establishing Farhad School. In this school, the emphasis was on creativity and critical thinking, and efforts were made to ensure students actively participated in the learning process. Mirhadi’s goal in founding Farhad School was to create an educational model that met the real needs of children and prepared them for future challenges.
Touran Khanom also paid attention to the emotional and social needs of children. She wanted to create a safe and supportive environment where children could express themselves without fear of judgment. This space helped them participate in learning with greater confidence. The use of literature and art was another feature of Farhad School. Learning in this school was experiential and active, so students could better understand concepts and apply them in their daily lives.
A school with the characteristics of Farhad School, with its innovative approaches and emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, and experiential learning, can be very suitable for Generation Z students. This generation, due to access to technology and information, is interested in active learning and participation in educational processes. Gen Z seeks spaces where they can express their ideas and foster their creativity. Farhad School’s creative approaches can meet this need. This generation is interested in practical and experiential learning, and Farhad School’s teaching methods, which emphasize experience and action, can lead to a deeper understanding of concepts.
*Education Expert
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