Promoting Peace in Montessori Education
Peace education is a huge component of the Montessori curriculum. Unfortunately, I think we often don’t give it the time and effort we should. There are so many other things to teach, learn, and do. It’s not hard, though, to bring peace into the classroom or home.
One nice place to start is by defining the word “peace”. You can ask children what they think it means; their answers will probably be very enlightening. They are often surprised to realize that peace can be found many places. It doesn’t just refer to “world peace”. They can have a hand in creating a peaceful environment wherever they are.
Peace, to me, doesn’t mean the absence of conflict. That would be an idealized world in which none of us live. Rather, it’s learning how to deal with conflict in a way that doesn’t put the rights, wants, or needs of one person over the other. It’s learning conflict resolution skills that stress respect for the individual and the group.
There are lots of great ways to help children learn about conflict resolution. One way (that they also enjoy very much) is through role-playing. Choose a time when everyone is together and there are no unresolved conflicts. Role-play different situations that you notice amongst the children. Talk about peaceful ways to resolve the conflict. You can define and discuss compromise, taking turns, and learning to listen.
One technique that kids love is to have one object in the classroom or home that is always used when kids are resolving conflict. Basically, kids face each other (or sit in a circle) and whoever is holding the object gets to talk. No one can interrupt, and once the object is passed on, the next person gets to talk exclusively. I have seen this work wonders in tension-filled situations (and in marriage!)
If you have an annual event, like a poetry recitation, a musical, or other performance, choose “Peace” as the theme every so often. Challenge the children to find stories, poems, and songs about peace. They may also want to draw or paint pictures of “peace” and what it means to them. Again, much insight can be gained by looking into their responses.
Peace education can vary by age; older children will naturally be able to get into the history of peace and conflict by studying different countries and cultures. They can participate at a higher level by researching and writing about peace and peace education.
I was just leaving my last school when 9/11 happened, and not long after that, the war in Iraq began. “Peace education”, which up until then had been fairly innocuous, took on a very different feel. Parents, teachers, and children all had different feelings about the war, and our country’s actions.
It’s important that school staff talk about these issues; it’s inevitable that they come up in elementary classrooms, and teachers need to know how to respond. I think it’s better to talk about it than not, but much sensitivity is needed in dealing with this topic. The foundation needs to be set at an early age; as Maria Montessori said, “Averting war is the work of politicians; establishing peace is the work of education.”
Some great resources:
Montessori Services has an entire section about peace and community. It includes games, books, puzzles, and pictures that promote peace and unity.
Michael Olaf has a large selection of books about peace, discipline, and character building. (You'll need to order a catalog; they don't have an online store).
There are many organizations that provide conflict resolution training for teachers and parents. This would make a great parent education night (have the teachers come, too). Do a search for “conflict resolution training”, “conflict mediation training”, or “conflict resolution montessori” to find resouces.
Amazon has a large selection of books on conflict resolution for kids. Be sure to read the synopsis and reviews of any book(s) you’re considering.
One nice place to start is by defining the word “peace”. You can ask children what they think it means; their answers will probably be very enlightening. They are often surprised to realize that peace can be found many places. It doesn’t just refer to “world peace”. They can have a hand in creating a peaceful environment wherever they are.
Peace, to me, doesn’t mean the absence of conflict. That would be an idealized world in which none of us live. Rather, it’s learning how to deal with conflict in a way that doesn’t put the rights, wants, or needs of one person over the other. It’s learning conflict resolution skills that stress respect for the individual and the group.
There are lots of great ways to help children learn about conflict resolution. One way (that they also enjoy very much) is through role-playing. Choose a time when everyone is together and there are no unresolved conflicts. Role-play different situations that you notice amongst the children. Talk about peaceful ways to resolve the conflict. You can define and discuss compromise, taking turns, and learning to listen. One technique that kids love is to have one object in the classroom or home that is always used when kids are resolving conflict. Basically, kids face each other (or sit in a circle) and whoever is holding the object gets to talk. No one can interrupt, and once the object is passed on, the next person gets to talk exclusively. I have seen this work wonders in tension-filled situations (and in marriage!)
If you have an annual event, like a poetry recitation, a musical, or other performance, choose “Peace” as the theme every so often. Challenge the children to find stories, poems, and songs about peace. They may also want to draw or paint pictures of “peace” and what it means to them. Again, much insight can be gained by looking into their responses.
Peace education can vary by age; older children will naturally be able to get into the history of peace and conflict by studying different countries and cultures. They can participate at a higher level by researching and writing about peace and peace education.
I was just leaving my last school when 9/11 happened, and not long after that, the war in Iraq began. “Peace education”, which up until then had been fairly innocuous, took on a very different feel. Parents, teachers, and children all had different feelings about the war, and our country’s actions.
It’s important that school staff talk about these issues; it’s inevitable that they come up in elementary classrooms, and teachers need to know how to respond. I think it’s better to talk about it than not, but much sensitivity is needed in dealing with this topic. The foundation needs to be set at an early age; as Maria Montessori said, “Averting war is the work of politicians; establishing peace is the work of education.”
Some great resources:
Montessori Services has an entire section about peace and community. It includes games, books, puzzles, and pictures that promote peace and unity.
Michael Olaf has a large selection of books about peace, discipline, and character building. (You'll need to order a catalog; they don't have an online store).
There are many organizations that provide conflict resolution training for teachers and parents. This would make a great parent education night (have the teachers come, too). Do a search for “conflict resolution training”, “conflict mediation training”, or “conflict resolution montessori” to find resouces.
Amazon has a large selection of books on conflict resolution for kids. Be sure to read the synopsis and reviews of any book(s) you’re considering.
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