Education — A Baha'i View: Warwick Leaflets
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop, Education — A Baha'i View: Warwick Leaflets, bahai-library.com.
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Education — A Bahá'í View:

Warwick Leaflets

Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop

1994/2019

To Bahá’ís, education is of fundamental importance. The purpose of education, from a Bahá’í point of view, is to fulfil the spiritual, intellectual, physical and practical potential of each individual. This will not only bring happiness to each person but will enable them to contribute to the general welfare of the world of humanity. The Bahá’í Writings say:

“The education and training of children is among the most meritorious acts of humankind...”

The different aspects of education are explained in this way:

“… education is of three kinds: material, human and spiritual. Material education aims at the growth and development of the body, and consists in securing its sustenance, and obtaining the means of its ease and comfort...

Human education, however, consists in civilisation and progress, that is, sound governance, social order, human welfare, commerce and industry, arts and sciences, momentous discoveries, and great undertakings….

As to divine education, it…consists in acquiring divine perfections. This is indeed true education...”

Spiritual and Moral Education

The divine perfections mentioned above are what we call moral qualities or virtues, such as kindness, generosity, honesty, trustworthiness and so on. Bahá’ís see acquiring these virtues as the fundamental part of educating a child. All else flows from this.

For this reason, most Bahá’í communities run weekly children’s classes in their local area. These are for all children, not just the children of Bahá’ís, and the main purpose for the early years is to teach the different virtues, and how they can be practised and developed. Bahá’ís want to help each child to fulfi
To
Bahá’ís, education is of fundamental importance. The purpose of education, from
a Bahá’í point of view, is to fulfil the spiritual, intellectual, physical and
practical potential of each individual. This will not only bring happiness to
each person but will enable them to contribute to the general welfare of the
world of humanity. The Bahá’í Writings say:

“The education and
training of children is among the most meritorious acts of humankind…”

The
different aspects of education are explained in this way:

“… education is of
three kinds: material, human and spiritual. Material education aims at the
growth and development of the body, and consists in securing its sustenance, and
obtaining the means of its ease and comfort…

Human education, however, consists in
civilisation and progress, that is, sound governance, social order, human
welfare, commerce and industry, arts and sciences, momentous discoveries, and
great undertakings….

As to divine education, it…consists in
acquiring divine perfections. This is indeed true education…”

Spiritual
and Moral Education

The divine perfections mentioned above are what we call moral qualities or virtues, such as kindness, generosity, honesty, trustworthiness and so on. Bahá’ís see acquiring these virtues as the fundamental part of educating a child. All else flows from this.

For this reason, most Bahá’í communities run weekly children’s classes in their local area. These are for all children, not just the children of Bahá’ís, and the main purpose for the early years is to teach the different virtues, and how they can be practised and developed. Bahá’ís want to help each child to fulfil their potential and to become a force for good, for:

“Every child is
potentially the light of the world…”

Universal
Education

Bahá’ís
lay great stress on unity. This is made easier if we understand one another’s
point of view. According to the Bahá’í Writings:

“…inasmuch as
ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all
must receive training and instruction…Universal education is a universal
law.”

In
most countries Bahá’í children will attend an existing local school. However,
in those countries where education is not universally and freely available, the
Bahá’í community will set up a school for the use of the local population. Here,
adults as well as children have the opportunity to learn.

An
unusual feature of Bahá’í beliefs is that, if there is no free schooling and
parents are forced to make a choice, then priority should be given to daughters
rather than sons:

“…most important
of all is the training of girl children, for these girls will one day be
mothers, and the mother is the first teacher of the child.”

The
Curriculum

Bahá’u’lláh,
the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, wrote:

“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.”

Education
is therefore about finding, encouraging and developing the talents of each
child:

“Give them the advantage
of every useful kind of knowledge. Let them share in every new and rare and
wondrous craft and art.”

Music
is also an important aspect of education, for “…music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart.”

As
Bahá’ís look towards the development of a world civilisation, a common
curriculum would be helpful:

“Education is
essential and all standards of training and teaching throughout the world of
mankind should be brought into conformity and agreement; a universal curriculum
should be established…”

Bahá’ís
believe that there should be a world language and script, chosen or invented,
which would be taught in all schools:

“They would, in
this way, be acquiring only two languages, one their own native tongue, the
other the language in which all the peoples of the world would converse.”

One
of the basic Bahá’í principles is that individuals should investigate truth for
themselves. Bahá’í children are therefore encouraged to learn about different
beliefs and to respect them. Indeed, Bahá’ís see all religions as part of the
same one religion of God, revealed in different places and at different times
throughout the ages.

Bahá’ís
teach their children to see themselves as world citizens so that prejudices of
gender, race or nation will not appear and they will appreciate that we all
hold responsibility for our common home, this earth.

Junior
Youth

Bahá’ís
use the term “junior youth” to describe those aged from about 11 to 14, who are
at a stage when they are thinking about the world and their place in it. Bahá’ís
and friends run local junior youth groups for young people of this age. In
these groups the young people learn to value themselves and to think carefully
about the world around them – recognising the power and true nature of much advertising
material, for example. The young people are encouraged to develop a sense of
service, and to this end they plan and carry out projects which are of service
to their community. The Bahá’í Writings say, of children:

“Teach them to
dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and inspire them to undertake
studies that will benefit mankind.”

This
should be a good basis for the rest of their lives.

Methods
of Education

There
is no overall educational method specified in the Bahá’í Writings. However,
there are a number of guidelines. For example:

“Many elementary
sciences must be made clear to them in the nursery; they must learn them in
play, in amusement. Most ideas must be taught them through speech, not through
book-learning. One child must question the other concerning these things and
the other must give the answer. In this way they will make great progress.”

Children
should be encouraged to think for themselves – to investigate and weigh the
evidence before them with an open mind.

Lifelong
Education

Bahá’ís
continue with their education for the whole of their lives. From the age of 15 they
join together with others in study circles where they explore how to lead a
spiritual life, and learn how to run children’s classes, junior youth groups and
other community-building activities. Many people who are not Bahá’ís enjoy
these study circles, where everyone’s opinion is valued. They are happy to join
the Bahá’ís in running children’s classes or junior youth groups for the
benefit of everyone.

Bahá’ís
believe that humanity will have a glorious future. As education becomes
universal and spiritually based, amazing results will follow. Ignorance will no
longer hold us back from realising that we are all one human family, that we
all share one planet and that we need to build a peaceful world together, for:

“Knowledge is as
wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent.”

The text of all these leaflets remains the copyright of Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop. The Bookshop is happy for people to download individual copies for their own purposes. Printed copies can be purchased from the Warwick Bookshop. Individuals or communities wishing to translate or print these leaflets in other countries please contact the Bookshop for permission.

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-- Education — A Baha'i View: Warwick Leaflets (Used by permission of the curator)