As parents and teachers how do we view children? Do we see them as empty vessels to be filled with instruction and information? Or as human beings full of potential waiting to be developed?
We often say that we are all created in the image of God – which implies that all of us, including our children, have the potential to reflect the attributes of God such as love, kindness and justice. However, these and many other capacities have to be developed through a balanced and all-inclusive education.
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. Accordingly, the aim of education should be the discovery and perfection of God-given potential, talents and capacities of our children and to enable them to serve the best interests of humanity.”
When children learn, through education, to serve the best interests of their family, their community and humanity, then education contributes not only to individual growth, but also towards transformation in society and they become instruments for the creation of just, peaceful and harmonious communities.
What other ingredients bring about a balanced education? “The proper education of children is of vital importance to the progress of mankind, and the heart and essential foundation of all education is spiritual and moral training … knowledge is praiseworthy when it is coupled with ethical conduct and virtuous character.
A physician of evil character, and who betrayeth his trust, can bring on death, and become the source of numerous infirmities and diseases.”
Education should cultivate in our children the capacity to participate in their own development. It should make them collaborators both in their own growth and in the development of their community. Through investigating for themselves all matters, rather than imitating others, children learn to participate in their own development. This will also protect them from prejudices and preconceptions – carried from one generation to the next – that are the main causes of disunity and division in our communities.
An all-inclusive education also implies that education should be provided for all and equally to boys and girls. According to a statement from the governing council of the Bahá’í international community: “The cause of universal education … deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded to all its citizens”.
For feedback please contact: tshwane@bahai.org.za, call 083-794-0819 or visit www.bahai.org
