What is the best way to teach peace to children?

Here is the response of Ann Mason in 2007:

Maria Montessori believed that peace was innate within children. Her timeless educational philosophy was developed around this basic understanding. Perhaps all we need to do as teachers is to provide stimulating learning environments that validate this knowing and understanding and nurture it. We may not have to actually teach it, Sharing peace-building stories gently attends to this. Strong, creative and imaginative peace-building characters who focus upon win-win and have faith in peace being possible are at the centre of the story plots. In Hassaun Ali-Jones Bey’s unique and mesmerising story, Black Ink is such a character who bravely crosses the universe seeking validation of what he knows in his heart. The magical character also models all the important peace-building values, understandings and actions needed for peace-building. I believe also that peace-building must be modelled and the whole teaching-learning environment should reflect similar values, understandings and actions…as is the primary focus of the Save the Children Australia UN Global Peace School Program upon which I am presently fortunate to be working. As Gandhi stated: ‘If we want peace in the world then we need to begin with the children.’ We need to listen to them. I also believe there are many ways to attend to peace-building..there’s not just one way…and fun and creativity should be elements of any peace-learning programme with children working together. Parents are also teachers and they can choose to share peace-building stories with children as well.

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:

UK: Peace Education Network offers free lessons on Oppenheimer’s legacy as new film released

Australia Teachers for Peace

Brazil: Forum brings together advisors to discuss culture of peace in schools

Panama promotes the practice of values for a culture of peace by students

Puerto Rico : Educate for a Culture of Peace

The Best Weapon for Peace : Maria Montessori, Education, and Children’s Rights

Global Teacher Prize: Juline Anquetin-Rault

Brazil: Compaz invites schools to the 19th edition of the book Londrina Pazeando

Spain: The Nonviolence Collective disseminates ‘Amanda’s comic’, an educational project for peace aimed at children and young people

More than 29 thousand people registered in the Second International Montessori Congress, a free virtual event

Philippines: Teach Peace Build Peace Movement