Online Reporter
Flora Teckie
Bahá’í Perspective
Every child is endowed with talents and capacities as a unique creation of God, and it is our responsibility and privilege, as parents and teachers, to assist them to realise their potential through education.
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith says: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”
To educate, according to the above quotation from Bahá’u’lláh, is “to bring forth” what already exists. Both intellectual and spiritual education are complementary and vital for the development of our children.
However, special emphasis must be placed on their spiritual education. In a world where children are easily influenced by aggressive materialism, attention to education for good character and praiseworthy qualities becomes a priority. The training, which they first receive at home, constitutes the strongest foundation for their future development.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “It is in early childhood that a firm foundation must be laid. While the branch is green and tender it can easily be made straight”, as “it is extremely difficult to teach the individual and refine his character once puberty is passed”.
This is because the training, which children receive at young ages, is much more effective and sustainable.
It is important for our children to grow up in a loving family and in an atmosphere of happiness, love, and understanding. A caring and supportive environment is vital for the full and harmonious development of the personality of our children.
Some parents seem to think that the school or community will give direction to our children so long as we provide for their material needs.
The upbringing of our children is our responsibility and privilege as parents. It is important to pay constant attention to this task. We need to create in our homes the conditions and atmosphere which will be conducive to the material and spiritual welfare and advancement of our children.
As parents, we need to devote time and effort to children’s upbringing, for them to be of good character and to acquire useful knowledge. Of course, it is important that we show our children what is right and how to behave by the example of our own lives.
Children should not be left to drift unguided in a world laden with moral dangers. Their spiritual and moral education is crucial for the victory of their spiritual nature over their lower nature.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “. . . from the very beginning, the children must receive divine education and must continually be reminded to remember their God. Let the love of God pervade their inmost being, commingled with their mother’s milk.”
“It is the bounden duty of parents to rear their children to be staunch in faith, the reason being that a child who removeth himself from the religion of God will not act in such a way as to win the good pleasure of his parents and his Lord.
“For every praiseworthy deed is born out of the light of religion, and lacking this supreme bestowal the child will not turn away from any evil, nor will he draw nigh unto any good.”
Teaching our children the oneness of humanity
Our children need to be taught about the oneness of humankind, to consider all human races as members of one family and to be just towards all. This will protect them from prejudices that are currently the greatest cause for strife and warfare in the world.
Teaching justice to the children, and to be fair-minded, is most important.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “Children must be so raised as to regard every soul, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or any other affiliation, as a fellow human being and to hold dear the words (of Bahá’u’lláh) that capture the spirit of the age: “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”
We need to cultivate in our children tolerance, love, compassion, understanding, sacrifice, humility, and an active commitment to justice. The kind of education we provide to our children should enable them to live in harmony and peace.
Our children must be guided to investigate and reason on all matters, instead of imitating adults. They should be taught to have high aims, contemplate on the consequences of their decisions and the results of their action.
We should empower our children to become agents of constructive social change in their communities. They must be made aware of their rights and responsibilities and empowered to take an active role in their own development, while they become collaborators in the development of their community.
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