A Compilation on Bahai Education Part 12

Thou didst write about the believers' daughters who attend the schools of other faiths. It is true that, while these children do learn a little in such schools, still the character and behaviour of the women teachers have an effect on them, and through the inculcation of doubts and ambiguities, the minds of these girls are influenced and changed.

It is inc.u.mbent upon the friends to provide a school for Baha'i girls whose women teachers will educate their pupils according to the teachings of G.o.d. There must the girls be taught spiritual ethics and holy ways.

A child is as a young plant: it will grow in whatever way you train it. If you rear it to be truthful, and kind, and righteous, it will grow straight, it will be fresh and tender, and will flourish. But if not, then from faulty training it will grow bent, and stand awry, and there will be no hope of changing it.

Certainly, the women teachers from Europe give instruction in language and scripts, and housekeeping, and embroidery and sewing; but their pupils'

character is completely altered, to such a point that the girls no longer care for their mothers, their disposition is spoiled, they misbehave, they become self-satisfied and proud.

Rather, girls ought to be trained in such a manner that from day to day they will become more self-effacing, more humble, and will defer to and obey their parents and forebears, and be a comfort and a solace to all.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [85]

"86: Consider that if the mother is a believer, the children will become..."

Consider that if the mother is a believer, the children will become believers too, even if the father denieth the Faith; while, if the mother is not a believer, the children are deprived of faith, even if the father be a believer convinced and firm. Such is the usual outcome, except in rare cases.

For this reason both fathers and mothers must carefully watch over their little daughters and have them thoroughly taught in the schools by highly qualified women teachers, so that they may familiarize themselves with all the sciences and arts and become acquainted with and reared in all that is necessary for human living, and will provide a family with comfort and joy.

It is therefore inc.u.mbent upon the Spiritual a.s.sembly of I_sh_qabad to take the lead in this most urgent matter, so that by the grace and favour of G.o.d they may establish an inst.i.tution which will be a source of security and happiness forever and ever.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [86]

"87: O handmaids of the beauty of Abha! Your letter hath come, and its perusal..."

O handmaids of the beauty of Abha! Your letter hath come, and its perusal brought great joy. Praised be G.o.d, the women believers have organized meetings where they will learn how to teach the Faith, will spread the sweet savours of the Teachings and make plans for training the children.

This gathering must be completely spiritual. That is, the discussions must be confined to marshalling clear and conclusive proofs that the Sun of Truth hath indeed arisen. And further, those present should concern themselves with every means of training the girl children; with teaching the various branches of knowledge, good behaviour, a proper way of life, the cultivation of a good character, chast.i.ty and constancy, perseverance, strength, determination, firmness of purpose; with household management, the education of children, and whatever especially applieth to the needs of girls-to the end that these girls, reared in the stronghold of all perfections, and with the protection of a goodly character, will, when they themselves become mothers, bring up their children from earliest infancy to have a good character and conduct themselves well.

Let them also study whatever will nurture the health of the body and its physical soundness, and how to guard their children from disease.

When matters are thus well arranged, every child will become a peerless plant in the gardens of the Abha Paradise.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Sec. 94, pp.12324) [87]

"88: Today it is obligatory for the loved ones of G.o.d, and their imperative..."

Today it is obligatory for the loved ones of G.o.d, and their imperative duty, to educate the children in reading, writing, the various branches of knowledge, and the expansion of consciousness, that on all levels they may go forward day by day.

The mother is the first teacher of the child. For children, at the beginning of life, are fresh and tender as a young twig, and can be trained in any fas.h.i.+on you desire. If you rear the child to be straight, he will grow straight, in perfect symmetry. It is clear that the mother is the first teacher and that it is she who establisheth the character and conduct of the child.

Wherefore, O ye loving mothers, know ye that in G.o.d's sight, the best of all ways to wors.h.i.+p Him is to educate the children and train them in all the perfections of humankind; and no n.o.bler deed than this can be imagined.(16)

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [88]

"89: O Handmaids of the Lord!..."

O Handmaids of the Lord!

The spiritual a.s.semblage that ye established in that illumined city is most propitious. Ye have made great strides; ye have surpa.s.sed the others, have arisen to serve the Holy Threshold, and have won heavenly bestowals.

Now with all spiritual zeal must ye gather in that enlightened a.s.semblage and recite the Holy Writings and engage in remembering the Lord. Set ye forth His arguments and proofs. Work ye for the guidance of the women in that land, teach the young girls and the children, so that the mothers may educate their little ones from their earliest days, thoroughly train them, rear them to have a goodly character and good morals, guide them to all the virtues of humankind, prevent the development of any behaviour that would be worthy of blame, and foster them in the embrace of Baha'i education. Thus shall these tender infants be nurtured at the breast of the knowledge of G.o.d and His love. Thus shall they grow and flourish, and be taught righteousness and the dignity of humankind, resolution and the will to strive and to endure. Thus shall they learn perseverance in all things, the will to advance, high-mindedness and high resolve, chast.i.ty and purity of life. Thus shall they be enabled to carry to a successful conclusion whatsoever they undertake.

Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it inc.u.mbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish within their children faith and cert.i.tude, the fear of G.o.d, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastis.e.m.e.nt should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Sec. 95, pp. 12425) [89]

"90: ... O maid-servants of the Merciful! It is inc.u.mbent upon you to train..."

... O maid-servants of the Merciful! It is inc.u.mbent upon you to train the children from their earliest babyhood! It is inc.u.mbent upon you to beautify their morals! It is inc.u.mbent upon you to attend to them under all aspects and circ.u.mstances, inasmuch as G.o.d-glorified and exalted is He! - hath ordained mothers to be the primary trainers of children and infants. This is a great and important affair and a high and exalted position, and it is not allowable to slacken therein at all!

If thou walkest in this right path, thou wouldst become a real mother to the children, both spiritually and materially....

("Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas", vol. III (Chicago: Baha'i Publis.h.i.+ng Society, 1916), Vol. III, p. 606) [90]

"91: Deliver my longings and greetings to the consolation of thine eye...

and..."

Deliver my longings and greetings to the consolation of thine eye(17) ...

and to thy younger son ... Verily I love them both even as a compa.s.sionate father loveth his dear children. As to thee, have for them an abundant love and exert thine utmost in training them, so that their being may grow through the milk of the love of G.o.d, forasmuch as it is the duty of parents to perfectly and thoroughly train their children.

There are also certain sacred duties on children toward parents, which duties are written in the Book of G.o.d, as belonging to G.o.d.(18) The (children's) prosperity in this world and the Kingdom depends upon the good pleasure of parents, and without this they will be in manifest loss.

("Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas", vol. II (Chicago: Baha'i Publis.h.i.+ng Society, 1915), Vol. II, pp. 2623) [91]