Education is a vast
field, and educational theories abound. Surely many have considerable merit,
but it should be remembered that none is free of assumptions about the nature
of the human being and society. An educational process should, for example,
create in a child awareness of his or her potentialities, but the glorification
of self has to be scrupulously avoided. So often in the name of building
confidence the ego is bolstered. Similarly, play has its place in the education
of the young. Children and junior youth, however, have proven time and again
their capacity to engage in discussions on abstract subjects, undertaken at a
level appropriate to their age, and derive great joy from the serious pursuit
of understanding. An educational process that dilutes content in a mesmerizing
sea of entertainment does them no service. We trust that, in studying the
institute courses, teachers and animators will find themselves increasingly
equipped to make judicious decisions in selecting any materials or activities
necessary, whether from traditional educational sources or from the wealth of
items, such as songs, stories, and games, that are sure to be developed for the
young in the Baha'i community in the years to come.
- The Universal House of
Justice (From a message dated 12 December 2011 addressed to all National
Spiritual Assemblies)
