An exploration of the purposes of a Bahá’í education system.

"At the outset of every endeavour, it is incumbent to look to the end of it. Of all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying those which will result in advantage to man, will ensure his progress and elevate his rank. Thus the noisome odours of lawlessness will be dispelled ..."
Bahá’u’lláh B.E. (1987) p6

"The individual must be educated to such a high degree that he would rather have his throat cut than tell a lie, and would think it easier to be slashed with a sword or pierced with a spear than to utter calumny or be carried away by wrath."
‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p17

In order to help us decide what a curriculum should contain, we need to know what we want from our educational system. We can come to a decision by asking such questions as: where do we want the Bahá’í community in this country to be in 10 to 15 years time, or by asking what kind of adults do we want our children to be.

In a sense these questions are two sides of the same coin and the answers to them will furnish us with the rationale for our curriculum structure and content.

We surely want our children to become adults who are:

a) Enabled to develop spiritually and morally, to be prepared for eternal life in all the worlds of God, and to lead an upright and useful life in this physical world, being ready to sacrifice for the benefit of others and to be of service to their fellows.

"But the indispensable basis of all is that he should develop spiritual characteristics and the praiseworthy virtues of mankind. If a person be unlettered, and yet clothed with Divine excellence, and alive in the breaths of the Spirit, that individual will contribute to the welfare of society ... And if a person be versed in the arts and every branch of Knowledge, and not live a religious life ... then he is harm personified, and nothing will come of all his learning and intellectual accomplishments but scandal and torment."
‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p32

b) Equipped with sufficient knowledge and understanding of the manifold aspects of the Faith to appreciate the purpose of God for humanity in this day, to promote the advancement of the human race, and to be able to share the Faith with others.

"Wherefore, O loving Friends, strive ... that these tender plants of the divine garden may grow and flourish in the grace that showereth down from the clouds of knowledge and true understanding, and advance to such a degree as to astonish the company of those who know." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p29

c) Equipped with the skills necessary to function effectively as a believer in relation to personal development, education, livelihood, family, society, the Bahá’í community and the administration of the Faith.

"Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections both within and without. It is not desirable that a man be left without knowledge or skills, for he is then but a barren tree. Then, so much as capacity and capability allow, ye needs must deck the tree of being with fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech."
Bahá’u’lláh B.E. (1987) p3

Perhaps, more simply, we might ask: what kind of people do we want to produce as a result of them going through eleven or so years of a systematic Bahá’í education?

i) People who are able to maintain a meaningful relationship with God, who can lead a moral life, and who will be of service to the human race.

ii) People who have a good knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

iii) People who have the skills to allow them to function as useful members of the Bahá’í community

A Bahá’í education programme that fails to provide any of the above would seem to be a waste of everyone’s effort. None is sufficient without the other, they are interdependent and inseparable.