Swami Dharmananda
Akaliakalan, 25.02.2006
The Ahimsa Yatra stayed in Mata Baintidevi Convent School. H.H. said to the gathering of teachers and students,
"It is a misconception that young children do not have the capacity for intellectual development. The grasping power of young children is high. In reality, the development of good habits and character takes place mostly during childhood. The parents have the first responsibility to help their children to develop a good character. However, the busy lifestyle of parents nowadays is the biggest hindrance to it.
The second responsibility falls on the teacher to build the student's character. Education is given mainly to learn how to earn more and more money. The students are more bent on courses of medical science, engineering, law, and administration, and they become expert in trade and in their special subject, but do not become good human beings. It is the call of the time that the parents and the schools have radical changes in their outlook. The training should be changed in the way that becoming a good human being takes the first place. A good human being can also become a good doctor or a good engineer, but it is not self-evident that a good doctor or engineer is automatically a good human being."