Baha'i Principles of Education: Categorization of and Commentary on Extracts from Baha'i Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper categorizes and discusses extracts from Baha'i Education. All extracts come from the writings and talks of Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha, and Shoghi Effendi. Section 1 discusses the nature and purpose of education, including financing education; discipline, perseverance, and order; purposes and principles of schools; establishment and supervision of schools; obligations of spiritual assemblies; education to advance world welfare; promotion of education; education for girls; education of orphans; parents' roles; compulsory education; and Baha'i education as the foundation of the law of God and the basis for happiness. Section 2 discusses human nature and the prevention of criminal or harmful acts, discipline, and encouragement rather than censure. Section 3 discusses pedagogy and highlights role models, the teacher's status, the teacher's value, the teacher's character and behavior, and prayer for knowledge. Section 4 discusses curriculum, including teaching about God and religion; fear combined with love and justice for controlling behavior; recognition of the manifestation of God; arts, crafts, and science education; criterion of usefulness of academic pursuits; reading and writing skills; auxiliary language education; melodiously reciting words of God; character education; knowledge leading to God; material, human, and spiritual education; developing volition; kindness to animals; universal curriculum for all; love in the curriculum; brief summary of a school curriculum; and balancing mental and spiritual education. Section 5 examines metaphors about education, including teacher as physician, God as educator, children as pearls, parents as teachers, teachers as gardeners, and metaphors about students. (SM)