Shoghi Effendi feels that the real purpose of these Summer
Schools is to deepen the knowledge of the friends. Lectures are very essential
for they give a wonderful picture of the subject-matter. But it is not
sufficient to have a picture; the friends should deepen their knowledge and
this can be achieved if together with the lectures there are study classes and
seminar work carried on by the same lecturer.
The world is undoubtedly facing a great crisis and the
social, economic and political conditions are becoming daily more complex.
Should the friends desire to take the lead in reforming the world, they should
start by educating themselves and understand what the troubles and problems
really are which baffle the mind of man. It is in these Summer Schools that
this training should be provided for the friends.
- Shoghi Effendi
(From a letter dated 27 January 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to an individual believer, published in ‘Bahá'í News’ 63, June 1932; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, Centers of Baha’i Learning)
