Online Reporter
Flora Teckie-Bahá’í Perspective
Raising children has always had its opportunities, but also its challenges.
In an age marked by rapid social change, the task of raising children will need more innovative measures.
Firstly, we have to remember that children are not empty vessels to be filled with instruction and information. All children are full of potential. They are like mines full of priceless gems.
Every one of them has talents that can be discovered and developed. Every one of them can grow up to become a valuable member of their communities and contribute to betterment of the world.
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, states: “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”.
The education and guidance of our children must start at an early age, as the training they get at this formative time is much more effective and sustainable. The training, which they first receive at home, constitutes the strongest foundation for their future development.
Mothers, in particular, have a special role to play in the early training and education of children, especially during the first few years of life when the basic values and character of the individual is formed.
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” and that “Children are even as a branch that is fresh and green; they will grow up in whatever way you train them.
“Take the utmost care to give them high ideals and goals, so that once they come of age, they will cast their beams like brilliant candles on the world, and will not be defiled by lusts and passions … but instead will set their hearts on achieving everlasting honour and acquiring all the excellences of humankind”.
The education that our children receive needs to address the material, social, and spiritual dimensions of their development.
While all three dimensions of education are complementary and are important for the development of our children, special emphasis should 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 Bahá’í Writings state: “… 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” and that “schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, …but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry”.
To avoid fanaticism and bigotry, children must be guided to investigate and reason on all matters, instead of imitating adults. They should be taught to have high aims, and to contemplate the consequences of their decisions and the results of their actions.
Of course, as parents, we need to devote time and effort to children’s upbringing, for them to be of good character and to acquire knowledge which is useful. And it is important that we show children what is right and how to behave by the example of our own lives.
Children need to be taught from a young age the importance of expressing their God-given talents and capacities in service to humanity. When service is coupled with the acquisition of practical skills and technology, it will open many possibilities for development and advancement in society.
According to a statement of the Bahá’í International Community, “Service to society helps individuals acquire skills and attitudes that enhance their potential to contribute to the betterment of society.
“This orientation towards service fosters coherence between learning and action -or, simply put, between ‘being’ and ‘doing’”.
Children should be taught about equality and the oneness of humankind: to consider the human race 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. In this way, our children can help in building a united and peaceful world, in which the massive portion of resources currently used for wars and weapons of destruction, are directed towards education, and the well-being and prosperity of humanity.
Teaching justice, and fair-mindedness, to children 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”.
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