Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Diamira Torrens Peace Education

Diamira Torrens

Peace Education

Living through two world wars can leave an impact on a person’s feeling for humanity, Maria Montessori was that person. She watched the hatred between people and felt that the only way to resolve and improve our future was through the child. Montessori was much respected in her work and made an impact in introducing Peace Education. She believed if we taught children compassion and respect from birth they would carry it with them and build a better society.
As in all aspects of the classroom the preparation must begin with the teacher “…to purify her heart and render it burning with charity toward the child.”(1) The classroom should be prepared to show a feeling of tranquility and love. Peace education, in part, is an extension of Grace and Courtesy. The teacher should be approachable so the child can trust to come to her when they feel they cannot handle a conflict on his own. A child should also be taught to reflect on his feelings and speak for himself, if needed, the teacher can help verbalize what they are feeling. It is the teacher’s responsibility to teach then to respect each other for their differences.
Sometimes I look at our little school and think of it as a Utopia, I wish full hardly that what they experience in this nurturing environment they can carry to the world and make a difference. There are several things we do already and some we have implemented recently. When a child has a problem with another child be in fighting (physically or with words) usually one child will find a teacher to tell the teacher what the other child has done. The teacher then takes the child back and tells the child to explain how they feel about what has been done to them, they both have a chance to express their feelings and resolve their problem if a resolution is needed, with time the children will learn to handle the situation on their own and can be moderators to younger children in a conflict. I’ve never felt that “I’m sorry” expresses as much concern as asking the other person if they are ok or what they can do to make them feel better or right their wrong. When a child is physically hurt by another (lets say pushed down on the playground) we ask the child to stay with the hurt child and maybe hold the ice if they are hurt until they feels better. This process teaches them compassion and also what their actions have caused. I would like to implement in the classroom a jar that a teacher or child can write a random act of kindness that is seen, and these acts can be read during circle time, for example: “during the morning I saw John give Jane a paper towel at the sink to dry her hands.” This will make a child more aware of the world around them. Reading books about peace and friendship is something else I’d like to do. I would also like the children to write stories about how to treat others; this will allow them to express their feelings, giving a scenario and how they would resolve it is also an idea for their writing. As part of our geography area we should have more about different cultures and religions so that children become aware that there is more to their world and to learn to respect others for their differences. We have a very diverse group of children and it would be wonderful if their parents could share about their culture and ethnicity as well, having different culture days, learning about holidays, food or traditions will teach tolerance.
Teaching the children to have inner peace is just as important. I would do this by teaching them about their bodies and about breathing and relaxing and how to use it when we feel angry or frustrated. Even though we do practice the “silence game” I would frequently so they can become aware of their surroundings and relax and listen to the world around them. I would love to do this outdoors sometimes and listen closer to the sounds they hear and then discuss them. I would also like to have the children learn more about our classroom pet and its care.
What a difference we can make in the lives of the children we are entrusted. The only hope we have for our future and theirs is that they can carry what they learn and spread it to others. Using the philosophies Maria Montessori has established we have a chance to make a difference.

(1) E.M. Standing Maria Montessori – Her Life and Work, New York, Mentor, 1957
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