David William House sent the following letter (response sent from mail@cartalk.com).

Dear Clack and Clatter (including sputter and rant),

I was interested in your question to the listeners about education and what it is. The following quote from the Baha'i writings (I think) illuminates the issue, and points to the idea of outcomes. After all, education, like anything else of value--if it is of value--has to have an outcome. If we think or speak of someone as "educated," then what will have changed about them, what will be different regarding them as compared with someone who is not "educated"?

It's not a funny quote (sorry), but it may serve as a very good basis for an extended rant...

Training in morals and good conduct is far more important than book learning. A child that is cleanly, agreeable, of good character, well-behaved--even though he be ignorant--is preferable to a child that is rude, unwashed, ill-natured, and yet becoming deeply versed in all the sciences and arts. The reason for this is that the child who conducts himself well, even though he be ignorant, is of benefit to others, while an ill-natured, ill-behaved child is corrupted and harmful to others, even though he be learned. If, however, the child be trained to be both learned and good, the result is light upon light.

Children are even as a branch that is fresh and green; they will grow up in whatever way ye train them. Take the utmost care to give them high ideals and goals, so that once they come of age, they will cast their beams like brilliant candles on the world, and will not be defiled by lusts and passions in the way of animals, heedless and unaware, but instead will set their hearts on achieving everlasting honour and acquiring all the excellences of humankind.

'Abdu'l-Baha, "Selections," p. 135

David
Aurora, OR

Back to Tommy's Education Forum Part II

[ Previous Letter | Letters Index | Next Letter ]