Educating Children

Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child’s character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.

'Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 125

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

where is this garden? i have to go there,looks familliar, so very pretty , can almost smell it.

Gaijin21 said...

The location is the Garden of Bahji, near Akka, Israel. Bahji is where the Shrine of Baha'u'llah is.

I found this photo in flickr, and I do not claim any rights to it. But it was so beutiful I wanted to attach it to a quote. I hope Leili won't mind me snagging this photo, but I will replace photo if it causes any problems. Here was the original post:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leilit/143338453/