Inspiring Schools Around the World!

I have been dreaming about a Baha'i School. Whether is it opening one or working for one. It's a dream that I pray that will become a reality!

I have been researching wonderful schools around the world and if you have any to share please comment here or drop me an email.

Green School in Bali
A Waldorf inspired nature based, 'Learning by doing' school.
It's philosophy, it's commitment to our world, it's architecture is itself an inspiration!
Check out the website: greenschool.org











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Forest Kindergarten (US)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/nyregion/30forest.html?_r=1
An fascinating philosophy, where children learn from nature, in nature. Nature is God's magnificent creation and we can learn so much from it and by immersing ourselves in it. Why not have kids learn and play in nature?

"Research has shown that free play in nature increases childen's cognitive flexibility, emotional capacity, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, use of imagination, self-esteem, and self-discipline. It makes them smarter, more cooperative, happier and healthier. "

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Japanese Pre-School
In Japan, there's also an interesting review on their kindergarten school system.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20100405-208626.html

Interesting look at the different ways we are all brought up around the whole. Here we see confident, independent, orderly & happy children. They have field trips almost everyday, no textbook. They learn from the surroundings, different experiences, different sounds, sights, people, environment. Our world itself is a multi-sensorial stimulator! Travel and take kids out often, they learn a lot from these trips.
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Here are just some of the wonderful schools I came across and it has inspired me to think and research future. What did Baha'u'llah envision True Education to be?
What type of education is necessary for the future generations? What type of education will enable us to develop our children with the essential skills to make the world a better place, to be leaders, to be able to be of service to humanity, to change to world, to rebuild this broken world. Education is the key to this transformation. But what type of education needed?

Let's ponder...

Next I will look on Bahai schools which are already established around the world.

Furutan Bk2-L7 Unity, L8 Kindness to one another. Fruit Salad!

Each child was asked to bring one fruit each and we cut them up to make fruit salad.
Each fruit unique & delicious on it's own, when put together with other fruits, flavour enhances giving a different tastes and interesting colours. Teaching them Unity in Diversity & Mingle together & show "loving-kindness to all who cross your path." regardless what colour we are, we are one! :)

Station & Qualification of a Teacher

STATION OF A TEACHER
Quote 1
Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children, young plants of the Abha Paradise…
It is, however, very difficult to undertake this service, even harder to succeed in it. I hope that thou wilt acquit thyself well in this most important of tasks, and successfully carry the day, and become an ensign of God's abounding grace… (-Abdu'l-Baha)

QUALITITES OF A TEACHER
Quote 2
The instruction of these children is even as the work of a loving gardener who tendeth his young plants in the flowering fields of the All-Glorious. (Abdu'l-Baha)

Quote 3
Therefore must the mentor be a doctor as well: that is, he must, in instructing the child, remedy its faults; must give him learning, and at the same time rear him to have a spiritual nature. Let the teacher be a doctor to the character of the child, thus will he heal the spiritual ailments of the children of men. (Abdu'l-Baha)

Quote 4
The teacher, when teaching, must be himself fully enkindled, so that his utterance, like unto a flame of fire, may exert influence and consume the veil of self and passion… (Abdu'l-Baha)

Quote 5
Firmness and steadfastness, however, are necessary, otherwise it will continue for some time, but later be gradually forgotten.
Perseverance is an essential condition. In every project firmness and steadfastness will undoubtedly lead to good results; otherwise it will exist for some days, and then be discontinued.
(Abdu'l-Baha)

Teacher Training :)

I have been humbly appointed as the Assistant Children Class Co-ordinator for Cluster Johor Bahru. This is my visit to the Bahai Community of Kulai. I met up with all the lovely dedicated children class teachers there and conducted a training on

1. Qualification and the station of a teacher - from the writings of Bahai faith
2. Revision of the Bahai National Curriculum for Children Class in Malaysia
3. Virtues - Speaking the language of virtue in class

We also played games and did a name tag- Teachers were required to write their names on it and then go around the room to write virtues on the cards of others. Seeing the positive noble virtues that lay latent in everyone of us.

I will share the training content shortly.

Great way to start the semester!

I have 2 lessons that can be taught as the first introductory class to the year.

This is the first one.

Walking a Spiritual Path

As we walk a spiritual path towards God, we discover within ourselves the gems and pearls. These gems are non other than our virtues and our reflection of the attributes of God such as Love, Kindess, Peacefulness, Truthfulness, Gentleness, Respect, Happiness...etc

Walking a Spiritual Pathway

will load the second one in the next few days.

Furutan Book 2 Lesson What is a Baha'i?

To be a Baha'i is to be the embodiment of all human virtues.- Abdu'l Baha
To believe and follow Baha'u'llah's Teaching for this wonderful new age! :)

Furutan Bk2-L5 What's a Bahai

Furutan Book 2 Lesson 16 Kindness to Animals

Finally a new post for a class :)

This class talks about how harming animals is actually worse than harming human beings, because human can express their grief and complain, but animals cannot.

Unless ye must,
Bruise not the serpent in the dust,
How much less wound a man.
And if ye can,
No ant should ye alarm,
Much less a brother.
– Abdu'l-Bahá

Have fun colouring :)

Furutan Bk2-L16 Kindness to Animals