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PEACE
IF WE ARE TO REACH REAL PEACE IN THIS WORLD, WE MUST BEGIN WITH THE CHILDREN.
-Gandhi
This quote has always helped to drive my
thinking as a teacher and business owner. But in this time of "peacelessness", I am very perplexed about how this will ever happen. It
only makes sense that the adults who are role models
and support systems for the children must make the changes
toward peace first.
What does this mean???? To me, there are some very clear ways that adults should live their lives in order for children to follow.
1) Educate yourself. Learn about the world. Seek the truth (not spin) in the process of education. What do you know about the environment and global warming, people who live in other parts of the world, your own government? Be
curious about everything.
2) Think. As you seek reliable information about various topics, think about what you are learning from many perspectives. Discuss with others, put yourself in someone else's shoes, think about possible consequences to actions, dig deeper for more information, ask questions. I
believe the more you think, the more thoughtful you become.
3) Be creative. Once you open yourself up and give yourself time to learn and think about what you're learning, creativity may follow. You'll
realize that problems can be solved in many different
ways, opportunities are only limited by the imagination.
4) Live the elements of peace. Solve problems and resolve conflict peacefully. Open
up lines of communication, be honest, share resources
(time, talent, knowledge, money, etc.), be authentically
concerned about others.
STEP TWO
1) Be a role model for your children, following all of the parts in STEP ONE. Think
out loud to your child as you wonder, research and
reach conclusions.
2) Encourage deeper thinking. Ask children questions about what they think. Ask
them to explain their thinking, what do they think
another person would think, what are possible solutions
and consequences, etc.
3) Provide opportunities to make choices and be independent (in accordance with their development). Encourage
children to speak up for themselves and support them
as they peacefully solve their problems.
I do fear for our world if we continue
to model violent conflict resolution to our children. As
we continue to deplete natural resources and pollute
our world, we are telling our children that we are
more important than others and future generations.
My job as a teacher educator has opened
my eyes to how little thinking, creativity, cooperative problem solving, social responsibility and choice is encouraged in our schools. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND has made the problem worse. Demand more from the schools than rote "learning".
Speak up and tell your leaders what you
think and vote for people who truly care about others
and will lead the world toward peace. It's time to change from "American arrogance" and start seeing everyone in this world as human beings with the same emotions and needs as us. If
we all do our part, maybe our children will begin to
reach real peace.
WHAT ARE WE DOING AT CREATIVE LEARNING TOYS TO HELP CHILDREN (and adults) LEARN ABOUT PEACE?
Write and distribute this essay to help adult role models live and teach the strategies of peace to their children.
Eliminate toys for sale that encourage violent conflict resolution role playing.
Include cooperative games that help children learn how to work together for the common good.
Provide books that help educate adults
and children about the world, the environment, peace,
etc. These
books provide great opportunities for discussion.
Provide a reusable cloth bag to our customers who will reuse and eliminate wasteful packaging that pollutes our environment.
Identify product that is manufactured using
FAIR TRADE principals and designating in the store
(currently in process). Advocating to manufacturers
the priority this should be given.
Sharing our resources with the community. The
giving of our time, knowledge, space and money (equal
to our ability) is the highest priority to us.
An opportunity for CLT staff to become
involved in WOMEN for WOMEN, an organization that pairs
an American woman with a woman from a country that
has experienced war and other hardships. Education
about daily life is part of the sharing.
www.womenforwomen.org
See our favorite "peaceful" products.
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