2.3.1
Education & Society – the role of society
Everyone, whether man or woman, should hand over to a trusted person a portion
of what he or she earneth through trade, agriculture or other occupation, for
the training and education of children, to be spent for this purpose with the
knowledge of the Trustees of the House of Justice.
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 89)
2.3.2
Education & Society – Common language to communicate
Among the things which are conducive to unity and concord and will cause
the whole earth to be regarded as one country is that the divers languages be
reduced to one language and in like manner the scripts used in the world be
confined to a single script. It is incumbent upon all nations to appoint some
men of understanding and erudition to convene a gathering and through joint
consultation choose one language from among the varied existing languages, or
create a new one, to be taught to the children in all the schools of the world.
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 165)
2.3.3
Education & Society – Obligatory education
Partaking of knowledge and education is one of the requisites of religion. The
education of each child is obligatory. If there are no parents, the community
must look after the child. It is suggested that the childless educate a child.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 26)
2.3.4
Education & Society – The Community
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.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 83)
2.3.5
Education & Society – Male and female
That is to say, there must be no difference in the education of male and
female in order that womankind may develop equal capacity and importance with
man in the social and economic equation. Then the world will attain unity and
harmony.
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 108)
2.3.6
Education & Society – Masses and capcity
"Among other teachings and principles Bahá'u'lláh counsels the education
of all members of society. 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 or philosophers but
each should be educated according to his needs and deserts."
('Abdu'l-Bahá:
The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 1982 ed., p. 108)
2.3.7
Education & Society - Three Cardinal Principles
First: Whole-hearted service to the cause of education, the unfolding of the
mysteries of nature, the extension of the boundaries of pure science, the
elimination of the causes of ignorance and social evils, a standard universal
system of instruction, and the diffusion of the lights of knowledge and reality.
Second: Service to the cause of morality, raising the moral tone of the
students, inspiring them with the sublimest ideals of ethical refinement,
teaching them altruism, inculcating in their lives the beauty of holiness and
the excellency of virtue and animating them with the excellences and perfections
of the religion of God. Third: Service to the oneness of the world of humanity;
so that each student may consciously realize that he is a brother to all
mankind, irrespective of religion or race. The thoughts of universal peace must
be instilled into the minds of all the scholars, in order that they may become
the armies of peace, the real servants of the body politic-the world. God is the
Father of all. Mankind are His children. This globe is one home. Nations are the
members of one family. The mothers in their homes, the teachers in the schools,
the professors in the college, the presidents in the universities, must teach
these ideals to the young from the cradle up to the age of manhood.
(From notes taken of talks given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, as quoted in: Star of the
West, Vol. IX, p. 98)
2.3.8
Education & Society – education of women
"The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving
first priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated
mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly
diffused throughout society. In keeping with the requirements of the times,
consideration should also be given to teaching the concept of world citizenship
as part of the standard education of every child."
(Universal
House of Justice October 1985)