te this principle.

(23 August 1984 to two believers) [35]

II. THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN

Extracts From the Writings of Baha'u'llah:

36: It is the bounden duty of parents to rear their children to be staunch
in...

It is the bounden duty of parents to rear their children to be staunch in
faith ... For every praiseworthy deed is born out of the light of
religion, and lacking this supreme bestowal the child will not turn away
from any evil, nor will he draw nigh unto any good.

(From a Tablet - translated from Persian, published in "Baha'i Education,
a compilation", 1976 World Centre edition, p. 6) [36]

Extracts From the Writings and Utterances of 'Abdu'l-Baha:

37: Praised be God, the women believers have organized meetings where they
will...

Praised be God, the women believers have organized meetings where they
will learn how to teach the Faith, will spread the sweet savours of the
Teachings and make plans for training the children.

...those present should concern themselves with every means of training
the girl children; with teaching the various branches of knowledge, good
behaviour, a proper way of life, the cultivation of a good character,
chastity and constancy, perseverance, strength, determination, firmness of
purpose; with household management, the education of children, and
whatever especially applieth to the needs of girls--to the end that these
girls, reared in the stronghold of all perfections, and with the
protection of a goodly character, will, when they themselves become
mothers, bring up their children from earliest infancy to have a good
character and conduct themselves well.

Let them also study whatever will nurture the health of the body and its
physical soundness, and how to guard their children from disease.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", sec. 94, pp. 123-24) [37]

38: Work ye for the guidance of the women in that land, teach the young
girls and...

Work ye for the guidance of the women in that land, teach the young girls
and the children, so that the mothers may educate their little ones from
their earliest days, thoroughly train them, rear them to have a goodly
character and good morals, guide them to all the virtues of humankind,
prevent the development of any behaviour that would be worthy of blame,
and foster them in the embrace of Baha'i education. Thus shall these
tender infants be nurtured