Spare the Rod..Spoil the Child? In this section, religion is used to support non-violent discipline of children. The passages were written by clergy and parents. They can be used for discussion groups, homilies and sermons, congregation newsletters, and religious education classes. The material is copyright free but authors ask that they be given appropriate credit. Links that are followed by a can also be download and read in Adobe Acrobat. Just right click on the picture, and select 'Save Target As...' If you need Adobe Acrobat, you can download it for free Bahai Baha'i Training of Children "Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse." Selections from 'Abdu'l-Baha, page 125, quote #95, submitted by Randy Cox, Little Rock, A