UNIVERSAL EDUCATION
QUOTATIONS FROM THE BAHÁ’Í TEACHINGS
NOWLEDGE is like unto wings for the being (of man) and is like a ladder for ascending. To acquire knowledge is incumbent upon all, but of those sciences which may profit the people of the earth, and not such sciences as begin in mere words and end in mere words. The possessors of sciences and arts have a great right among the people of the world. Indeed, the real treasury of man is his knowledge. Knowledge is the means of honor, prosperity, joy, gladness, happiness and exultation.
He who educates his son, or any other children, it is as though he hath educated one of My children. (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.)
NO INDIVIDUAL should be denied or deprived of intellectual training although each should receive according to capacity. None must be left in the grades of ignorance, for ignorance is a defect in the human world. All mankind must be given a knowledge of science and philosophy; that is, as much as may be deemed necessary. All cannot be scientists and philosophers but each should be educated according to his needs and deserts.
The education of woman is more necessary and important than that of man, for woman is the trainer of the child from its infancy. If she be defective and imperfect herself the child will necessarily be deficient; therefore imperfection of woman implies a condition of imperfection in all mankind, for it is the mother who rears, nurtures and guides the growth of the child. This is not the function of the father. If the educator be incompetent the educated will be correspondingly lacking. This is evident and incontrovertible. Could the student be brilliant and accomplished if the teacher is illiterate and ignorant? The mothers are the first educators of mankind; if they be imperfect, alas for the condition and future of the race. . . . Therefore, they (the mothers) must be capably trained in order to educate both sons and daughters. There are many provisions in the Words of Bahá’u’lláh in regard to this. . . When all mankind shall receive the same opportunity of education and the equality of men and women be realized, the foundations of war will be utterly destroyed. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá in “Promulgation of Universal Peace.”)
EDUCATION holds an important place in the new order of things The education of each child is compulsory. If there is not money enough in the family to educate both the girl and the boy the money must be dedicated to the girl’s education, for she is the potential mother. If there are no parents the community must educate the child. In addition to this widespread education each child must be taught a profession, art, or trade, so that every member of the community will be enabled to earn his own livelihood. Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá in “Divine Philosophy.”)
ALL THE CHILDREN must be educated so that there will not remain one single individual without an education. In cases of inability on the part of the parents through sickness, death, etc., the state must educate the child. In addition to this widespread education, each child[Page 164]
must be taught a profession or trade so that each individual member of the body politic will be enabled to earn his own living and at the same time serve the community . . . From this universal system of education misunderstandings will be expelled from amongst the children of men. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in “Bahá’í Scriptures,” v. 574.)
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH has announced that inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a universal law. It is therefore incumbent upon every father to teach and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people must provide the means for their education. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in “Promulgation of Universal Peace,” p. 294.)
THE NECESSITY OF education for all mankind is evident. Children especially must be trained and taught. . . . Through the broadening spirit of education, illiteracy will disappear and misunderstandings due to ignorance will pass away . . . . He (Bahá’u’lláh) has proclaimed the principle that all mankind shall be educated and that no illiteracy be allowed to remain. This practical remedy for the need of the world cannot be found in the text of any other sacred books. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá in “Promulgation of Universal Peace.”)
THE PROPHETS OF GOD are the first Educators. They bestow universal education upon man and cause him to rise from the lowest levels of savagery to the highest pinnacles of spiritual development. The philosophers, too, are educators along lines of intellectual training. At most they have only been able to educate themseves and a limited number about them, to improve their own morals and, so to speak, civilize themselves; but they have been incapable of universal education. They have failed to cause an advancement for any given nation from savagery to civilization.
It is evident that although education improves the morals of mankind, confers the advantages of civilization and elevates man from lowest degrees to the station of sublimity, there is nevertheless a difference in the intrinsic or natal capacity of individuals. Ten children of the same age, with equal station of birth, taught in the same school, partaking of the same food, in all respects subject to the same environment, their interests equal and in common, will evidence separate and distinct degrees of capability and advancement; some exceedingly intelligent and progressive, some of mediocre ability, others limited and incapable. One may become a learned professor while another under the same course of education proves dull and stupid. From all standpoints the opportunities have been equal but the results and outcomes vary from the highest to lowest degree of advancement. It is evident therefore that mankind differs in natal capacity and intrinsic intellectual endowment. Nevertheless although capacities are not the same, every member of the human race is capable of education . . . . . the holy Manifestations of God, the Divine Prophets are the first teachers of the human race. They are universal Educators and the fundamental principles they have laid down are the causes and factors of the advancement of nations. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá in “Promulgation of Universal Peace.”)
