History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s1.17

v1.c8.s1.17

It will be observed that the method of teaching pursued was extremely defective in so far as it was in the first two stages purely mechanical. A student who did not complete all the three stages knew practically nothing more than the mere mechanical application of a set of formulæ committed to memory; and as he did not know the *rationale* of the formulæ he was using, he was bound to commit mistakes in their application. It may be mentioned that not many teachers themselves could guide a pupil through all the stages of the teaching, and the earnest student, if he had a genuine desire to learn, had to go to some seat of learning or to some celeberated scholar to complete his training.