Students Role in World Peace
In anticipation of the upcoming Education Fast Forward debate (EFF5: From Learner Voice to Global Peace), we posed the following questions to guest presenter, Jeremy Gilley, of Peace One Day:
How important do you feel education and specifically teachers and learners are in achieving Peace One Day? What do you think they can do to make a real difference?
Read Jeremy's response below:
'From the beginning of Peace One Day's journey, young people have always been important to me. What would they think of a Peace Day? Could it be a starting point for their actions for a more peaceful world? Over the years, I've spoken to well over 40,000 young people and it was really clear to me that the day made sense to them. At the same time, teachers were telling me that they needed tools: lesson plans and resources to help drive debate and inform practical action in the classroom. Education, therefore, has always been at the centre of Peace One Day's campaign to institutionalise Peace Day.
'It is important for young people to understand that Peace Day is not confined to combatants in distant international wars. Peace Day 21 September is a day of ceasefire and non-violence at all levels of society and so applies to each individual's own behaviour and decisions in their everyday lives. Alongside parents, teachers are some of the most influential figures in a child's life; they help form their world view and concepts of society, positions that are strengthened as they grow up. Through teaching, I believe we can nurture students' understanding of peace, not only positively informing their daily actions, but also developing the foundations for a more active and peaceful future. By inspiring young people and students, sustainable and meaningful peace can be built in schools, homes and communities around the world.
'Teachers are a key part of this endeavour and can help by joining the Global Truce 2012 campaign. This campaign aims to bring about the largest global
How important do you feel education and specifically teachers and learners are in achieving Peace One Day? What do you think they can do to make a real difference?
Read Jeremy's response below:
'From the beginning of Peace One Day's journey, young people have always been important to me. What would they think of a Peace Day? Could it be a starting point for their actions for a more peaceful world? Over the years, I've spoken to well over 40,000 young people and it was really clear to me that the day made sense to them. At the same time, teachers were telling me that they needed tools: lesson plans and resources to help drive debate and inform practical action in the classroom. Education, therefore, has always been at the centre of Peace One Day's campaign to institutionalise Peace Day.
'It is important for young people to understand that Peace Day is not confined to combatants in distant international wars. Peace Day 21 September is a day of ceasefire and non-violence at all levels of society and so applies to each individual's own behaviour and decisions in their everyday lives. Alongside parents, teachers are some of the most influential figures in a child's life; they help form their world view and concepts of society, positions that are strengthened as they grow up. Through teaching, I believe we can nurture students' understanding of peace, not only positively informing their daily actions, but also developing the foundations for a more active and peaceful future. By inspiring young people and students, sustainable and meaningful peace can be built in schools, homes and communities around the world.
'Teachers are a key part of this endeavour and can help by joining the Global Truce 2012 campaign. This campaign aims to bring about the largest global