We just celebrated Mother’s Day on 9 May, and will be observing the International Day of Families on 15 May. It is the opportune time to reflect on the important role that women play in our families and as the first educators – a role that begins from the child’s infancy.
Obviously, both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating their children. But the mother is given recognition as “the first educator of the child, and the most important formative influence in his development”.
It is true that children receive formal education at school. But it is at home that character is developed and moral and spiritual attitudes are formed. It is the first environment where the values of tolerance, peace and social responsibility can be taught.
According to the Bahá’í Writings, “mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgement, the understanding and the faith of their little ones”.
Mothers can be the primary agents for empowering individuals to transform society. The mother is the trainer of children from their infancy. As the first educator of children, mothers must be carefully prepared for this task.
Education and training of girls, therefore, is crucial to the well-being and advancement of communities and nations. Without the qualities, talents and skills of both women and men, full social and economic development of the planet is impossible.
“The advancement of civilisation,” in the Bahá’í view, “now requires the full participation of everyone, including women. Women must, therefore, be educated, not only for the service they render to humanity as the first educators of children, but ultimately, for the special contributions women must make to the creation of a just world order, an order characterised by such compassion, vigour and scope has never been seen in history.”
Women and girls must make every effort to advance themselves intellectually and spiritually. Since men and women complement each other in their roles and functions, the happiness and stability of humanity cannot be assured unless both are perfected and treated as equals.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “The world of humanity has two wings – one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, the flight is impossible” and “the happiness of mankind will be realised when women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of the other”.
Our challenge today is to create the conditions in which girls can develop to their full potential. The creation of such conditions will involve the transformation of individuals – men and women, boys and girls and deliberate attempts to bring change in various structures of society.
For feedback please contact: tshwane@bahai.org.za; or call 083-794-0819
Website: www.bahai.org, www.bahai.org.za
