"The outlook for mankind ... is a race between education and catastrophe."
H.G. WELLS p105
"The Fate of Homo Sapiens"

"The basic function of all education, even in the most traditional sense, is to increase the survival prospects of the group. If this function is fulfilled, the group survives. If not, it doesn’t."
POSTMAN & WEINGARTNER p195
"Teaching as a Subversive Activity"

"Man is even as steel, the essence of which is hidden: through admonition and explanation, good counsel and education, that essence will be brought to light. If, however, he be allowed to remain in his original condition, the corrosion of lusts and appetites will effectively destroy him."
Bahá’u’lláh B.E. (1987) p3

These quotations are extraordinarily blunt. Quite simply they say that if the human race goes without education, or the education they get is useless, then humanity faces catastrophe, extinction and destruction. We have only to look around us, to watch the television or read a newspaper to see this for ourselves. Most of us know how important education is for our children, but how many of us act as though we understand that importance? How often do we seriously reflect on the meaning of the words of our sacred scriptures and authoritative pronouncements and then act upon our newly gained insights?

" ... the training of children ... is among the weightiest of principles in all the Divine Teachings ... The utmost care must be devoted to these matters; any neglect of them, any failure to act on them, is not permissible." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p16

"... the education of children ... is the foundation of the Law of God, and the bedrock of the edifice of His Faith." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p21

"According to the explicit divine Text, teaching the children is indispensable and obligatory." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p25

There seems to be a consistent message for us here. Expressions such as "weightiest of principles", "utmost care", "Foundation of the Law of God" are not intended as casual asides by the Centre of the Covenant. We are being told that on the education of our children the very Faith of God rests. Neglect and failure are not permissible. We must teach our children and we cannot do without it. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá could not make it any clearer. Yet, still, as a whole Bahá’í Community, we often fail to respond to the urgency and the gravity of the task.

At the basest level of self-interest we might mutter to ourselves: "What’s in it for me?" Especially if we do not have children of our own, or children of school age. Strangely enough, the Writings have an answer for this:

"Blessed is that teacher who remaineth faithful to the Covenant of God, and occupieth himself with the education of children. For him hath the Supreme Pen inscribed that reward which is revealed in the Most Holy Book. Blessed, blessed is he!"
Bahá’u’lláh B.E. (1987) p7

"Whoso is active in those meetings whether as a teacher of the children or a sponsor, will certainly become the recipient of confirmations from the invisible Realm, and endless bounties will compass him about." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p21

Blessings, confirmations and endless bounties will be the lot of anyone who teaches children or helps others to teach in any way. And if that does not prove sufficiently convincing, there is more:

"If one should, in the right way, teach and train the children, he will be performing a service than which none is greater at the Sacred Threshold."
‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p24

So, there is no greater service in the Faith than to teach and train children. All other forms of service rank equal or beneath child education. Sobering thought, is it not? And how many of us have longed to have lived in the lifetime of Bahá’u’lláh, to have come into His presence and to have brought Him tea or food? According to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we still can:

"Today the training and education of the believers’ children is the pre-eminent goal of the chosen. It is the same as servitude to the Sacred Threshold and waiting upon the Blessed Beauty." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p26

This is, perhaps, the most extraordinary idea of all! Though there is one more way in which the Writings explain the importance of educating our children:

"We prescribe unto all men that which will lead to the exaltation of the Word of God amongst His servants, and likewise, to the advancement of the world of being and the uplift of souls. To this end, the greatest means is education of the child. To this must each and all hold fast ... We ask of God that He will assist each and every one to obey this inescapable command ..."
Bahá’u’lláh B.E. (1987) p2

There is no escape. Here Bahá’u’lláh spells it out that every one of us, individually and collectively, is responsible for the education of children. That is how important it is!

Having established that, as Bahá’ís, we must devote a considerable proportion of our time, energy and resources to the education of the next generation, we must look to the question of its proper organisation. If we attempt an enterprise, especially one as grand as a national system of child and youth education, without effective organisation, it is as if we were trying to hold water in a colander instead of a saucepan. More aptly, we might say that it is as if we were planning an expedition to cross the Atlantic in a sailing ship, yet we have gathered no provisions for our voyage, we have no canvas for our sails, our crew have never been to sea before and our captain has no knowledge of how a ship works nor whether it is even seaworthy.

"The Sunday school for the children ... is indeed a blessed thing. You must certainly continue this organised activity without cessation, and attach importance to it ... If this activity is well organised, rest thou assured that it will yield great results. Firmness and steadfastness, however, are necessary, otherwise it will continue for some time, but later be gradually forgotten. Perseverance is an essential condition."
‘Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p42

"If a plant is carefully nurtured by a gardener, it will become good, and produce better fruit. These children must be given a good training from their earliest childhood. They must be given a systematic training which will further their development from day to day, in order that they may receive greater insight, so that their spiritual receptivity be broadened." ‘
Abdu’l-Bahá B.E. (1987) p44

From these quotations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we can see that the concepts of organisation and systematisation are closely linked to child education, and that success is actually dependent upon them. Shoghi Effendi, not surprisingly, gives similar advice to Local Spiritual Assemblies:

"They must promote by every means in their power the material, as well as the spiritual, enlightenment of youth, the means for the education of children, institute, whenever possible, Bahá’í educational institutions, organise and supervise their work, and provide the best means for their progress and development."
Shoghi Effendi B.E. (1987) p48

Without organisation no collective enterprise can hope for success, development or longevity, for it means all of the following and more:
* prior thinking and consultation
* deciding what you want to do
* planning
* applying relevant and appropriate knowledge and skills from previous experience
* developing a structure or series of related structures
* developing a procedure or series of related procedures
* recruiting willing and able personnel
* training them adequately beforehand or during the task
* acquiring premises and resources
* securing funding
* ensuring adequate publicity
* securing understanding and support of target population
* monitoring progress, reviewing and evaluating it and adjusting the system and / or procedure to be more effective
Organisation requires forethought, vision, experience, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and perseverance. Educational systems are not for those who crave public adulation or instant gratification, for the consumers are unaware of what lies behind what you do, and the results are discernible in decades rather than days and in lifetimes rather than seasons.