Teacher Without Borders Module 1

In Module 1, I looked at the foundation and background history of peace education including the history, definitions, major philosophers, and concepts central to the field.

What does peace mean to me?

"Peace education can be defined simply as “the process of teaching people about the threats of violence and strategies for peace,” and may take place inside or outside a classroom" (Harris, 2008, p. 15).  I look at peace as a means for all living creatures to be on the same playing field.


What is the connection between peace and education?
We can look at peace and education to mean that all students shouldn't struggle to receive an equal education.  Two quotes from the unit that struck me when connecting peace and education were...

"The ultimate goal of peace education is the formation of responsible, committed, and caring citizens who have integrated the values into everyday life and acquired the skills to advocate for them". - Betty Reardon  

"Unless we teach children peace, someone else will teach them violence". - Coleman McCarthy 

Peace education can be linked to so many different aspects of education and for the struggle for educational equity that we have faced long before our time dating down to the struggle of education during slavery.

History of Peace Education 

• Maria Montessori
• Influential mid-20th century theorist who found new connections between peace and education
• Linked teaching methodology to peace-building
• Peace studies
• Became a more serious academic subject after World War II
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)-- Created in 1989 and seen as a fundamental right that all children should have
• John Dewey

"Education is a social process.  Education is growth.  Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself"

• Founder of the Progressive Movement
• Humanity had limitless potential in a less positive direction: the limitless potentioal to demoralize and promote violence
• Paulo Freire

"Any situation in which some individuals prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry os one of violence.  The means used are not important; to alienate human beings from their own decision-making is to change them into objects."

• Brazilian education know for his work in the field of critical pedagogy
• Author of the Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1972),describing the opressed, the oppressors, and their relationship to maintain unequal power relations

Assignment #1 Peace Autobiography

Why do I see peace education as something important in the classroom?

I see peace education to be something that is not confined to teaching people the threats of violence and how to achieve peace, but more of a issue that can be related to equality and sustainability.  As a future Science educator, I feel that Peace Education is more than non-violence, but a way to build a bond not only with others, but a way to build a bond with our community and surroundings.  Peace education, specifically in the Science field can help us really maintain the harmony we create with our environments and with others.