Spiritual and Moral Education of Children
Every child has the potential to manifest the inherent qualities that God has endowed within them, and each individual possesses unique talents that can be discovered and nurtured. Bahá’u’lláh states: "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education alone can cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."
Divine education is that of the Kingdom of God: it con-sists in acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education; for in this state man becomes the focus of divine blessings.
Examples of the gems (qualities) that education should aim to develop in every child include intellectual capacities such as the ability to discover the laws of nature, the talent to create beautiful works of art, and the skill to articulate noble ideas. Proper education enables children to begin developing these abilities. For this development to occur, it is essential that noble qualities be cultivated from an early age. Moreover, there are specific virtues that individuals should develop during childhood, which are crucial for human existence. The ultimate goal, therefore, is to nurture these qualities and abilities, advance the principle of the inherent unity of mankind, and reinforce the values of coexistence, love, and mutual understanding among all, irrespective of religious and cultural backgrounds.
Some of these virtues that must be cultivated in children
Trustworthiness
“Say: Honesty, virtue, wisdom and a saintly character redound to the exaltation of man, while dishonesty, imposture, ignorance and hypocrisy lead to his abasement.”
- Bahá’u’lláh
- Bahá’u’lláh
Truthfulness
“Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues."
- Bahá’u’lláh
- Bahá’u’lláh
Justice
“Tread ye the path of justice, for this, verily, is the straight path."
- Bahá’u’lláh
- Bahá’u’lláh
An example of a song that promotes noble qualities in children
God created us from the same dust to be even as one soul
God created us from the same dust to cooperate for the good of all people
Let us work together, hand in hand, step by step,
we cooperate with one another to build a world of love, to build a world of peace
Let us work together
