نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
During the Qajar era, Iran was profoundly influenced by the wide‑ranging transformations resulting from increased interaction with the Western world, one of the most significant of which was the emergence of a modern educational system. The introduction and establishment of this system unfolded through several stages, including sending students abroad, the founding and operation of missionary schools, the establishment of Dar al‑Funun, and the development of national schools. Each of these stages was accompanied by its own challenges and fluctuations. Among them, the activities of missionary schools—whose objectives extended beyond education to include religious proselytization and, at times, political aims—faced the greatest degree of opposition and diverse reactions. Accordingly, the present study focuses on examining how Shi‘i religious authorities, as well as the officials of Iran’s educational system, responded to the educational and missionary activities of these schools. Using a descriptive‑analytical approach and drawing on historical documents, including the texts of legal inquiries (istiftāʾāt) addressed to several religious authorities, the article demonstrates that reactions to missionary schools can be categorized into two main groups: supporters and opponents. It further shows that educational officials, particularly members of the Supreme Council of Education (Shurā-ye ʿĀlī-ye Maʿāref), warned about the religious and political implications of foreign schools in Iran and emphasized the necessity of regulating and supervising their activities.
کلیدواژهها English
