Parents have always desired that their children have a better life than themselves. How better than to enshrine the principle of compulsory, universal education into society? The following quotes gives readers an idea of the importance Baha’is place on the education of children in the future of humanity.
The idea that people needed to be able to read and write has been around since humanity has learned to put ‘pen to paper’. The principle of compulsory education came into effect in the 1890’s in Canada. In 1882 Baha’u’llah wrote the following to a merchant in Syria:
‘Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasurers, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.’
(Baha’u’llah)
‘Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children…..It is incumbent upon every father and mother to counsel their children over a long period, and guide them unto those things which lead to everlasting honour.”
“And among the teachings of Baha’u’llah is the promotion of education. Every child must be instructed in sciences as much as is necessary. If the parents are able to provide the expenses of this education, it is well, otherwise the community must provide the means for teaching of that child.’
(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)
‘And further, according to the Divine commandments, every child must learn reading and writing, and acquire such branches of knowledge as are useful and necessary, as well as learning an art or skill. The utmost care must be devoted to these matters; any neglect of them, any failure to act on them, is not permissible…’
(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian)
‘It is for this reason that, in this cycle, education and training are recorded in the Book of God as obligatory and not voluntary. That is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts.’
(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)
‘Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him. Happy the man that cleaveth unto it and woe betide the heedless.’
(Baha’u’llah)