Claim. The first education of children should be education in God’s love, not merely education in knowledge or social function.
Elaboration. SMM says that education should be “an education of love,” because God’s first concern for Adam and Eve was that they become people whose relationship with Him was absolute (CSG 4.9 §1, 51-171, 1971.11.21). Knowledge and ethical instruction have their place, but they are secondary to learning the direction of heart. The heavenly world is described as “the world of heart,” so the child must first learn how to love God, parents, siblings, spouse, and creation in the right order. The implication is that family education is not reducible to schooling; parents are responsible for shaping the child’s heart before the child receives technical competence.
See also. purpose-of-creation