Developing a Culture of Peace in the Classroom April 25, 2011 Alumni Webinar Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) International Leaders and Education Program (ILEP)

Desarrollando una cultura de paz en el salòn de clase April 25, 2011 Alumni Webinar Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) International Leaders and Education Program (ILEP)

This session will cover: brief overview of peace education and its characteristics how educators can utilize peace education topics and theme in their lessons and teaching to create a classroom culture of peace the benefits of a culture of peace to the classroom learning environment sample activities and educational resource available for educators

Esta sesiòn cubrirà: Una breve sìntesis de EDUCACION PARA LA PAZ y sus caracterìsticas. Como pueden los educadores usar tòpicos y temas de EDUCACION PARA LA PAZ en sus lecciones y enseñar en ellas a crear una cultura de paz en el salòn de clase. Los beneficios de una cultura de paz en el ambiente de aprendizaje dentro del salòn de clase. Actividades de ejemplo y recursos disponibles para educadores.

Adapted from: UN Cyber School Bus, About Peace Education,

What is peace education? “It is education that is "directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". It promotes "understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups" and furthers "the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace." –From: Article 26, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Peace education is a process of teaching people about the threats of violence and strategies for peace.” –From: Ian Harris, “History of Peace Education,” 2008, Encyclopedia of Peace Education, Teachers College, Columbia University,

Characteristics of contemporary peace education? Shift focus from negative to positive peace Defined by local context Topics or trends include conflict resolution, human rights, environmentalism, global education, and issues of development Overarching goal: striving for sustainable peaceful solutions and relations

Additional characteristics Peace education is a transformative process Peace education is not an add on to curriculum Peace education is holistic

Establishing a Culture of Peace in the Classroom The process by which values of peace are incorporated into the classroom’s learning environment. Values of peace: willingness to dialogue, listen to multiple perspective, work democratically accepting difference, but being willing and able to identify commonalities among groups and individuals respecting human rights showing empathy and justice commitment to nonviolent solutions to conflict Others? Image from:

Strategies for introducing a culture of peace in the classroom Teaching Strategies ◦Allow space for open inquiry and dialogue ◦Connecting the micro and macro ◦Use of participatory approaches appropriate for lesson objectives (e.g. role-playing, examining multiple perspectives/sources, use of “teachable moments”, brainstorm alternative end, etc.) Classroom Management ◦ Collaboratively set ground rules for the classroom ◦ Encourage safe atmosphere to express feelings ◦ Establish means of handling conflict through dialogue ◦ Display student projects on topics of peace.

Benefits for classroom learning environment? Encourages critical self reflection by students and educators to rethink their assumptions and beliefs Builds critical thinking and problem solving skills Allows for agency in the class – students can identify problems and develop solutions Inclined toward participatory, collaborative methods Develops students’ abilities to empathize and consider multiple perspectives Image from:

Sample peace education activities Critical Writing/Reading: U.S. Journalism class critically evaluates credibility of news sources to better understand validity and perspective of publication. The ability to critically review news information is a key characteristic to good citizenship and necessary for combating propoganda. From TEA U.S. Teacher Civic Fair Description “Promoting Good Global Citizenship” Research and Advocacy: Cambodian lesson on violence on TV. Students critically review youth-targeted television programs to determine how youth might be impacted by violence in these programs and proposing a possible solution to reduce the representation of violence on TV. From Peace-Lessons-From-Around-the-World Simulation: World Peace Game Students are given a complex set of global crises and collaboratively tasked with resolving each one on an interactive game table. From:

Resources for peace education From:

From:

One step at a time The introduction of a culture of peace in your teaching and classroom is a process The goals of peace education are naturally linked to the general goals of basic education – to generate thoughtful, critical, good citizens Resources and evidence of peace education are available from all over the world.

Thank you! Unless we teach children peace, someone else will teach them violence. - Coleman McCartney