May Peace Prevail On Earth
'MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH' SCHOOL PROGRAMME
The role of 'May Peace Prevail on Earth' school programme
What is 'May Peace Prevail on Earth' school programme?
Some benefits to participating schools
Education ideas and methods are changing to meet the needs of a changing world. The curriculum is changing in Scotland and in the UK as a whole – and also internationally.
For example, in Scotland, the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ is now being introduced. It will gradually take over from the present ‘curriculum guidelines’ and it is based on ‘thinking differently about the curriculum to enable all young people to become:
• successful learners
• confident individuals
• responsible citizens
• effective contributors
Education authorities, in this country and internationally are looking for ways to incorporate these new ideas into everyday teaching practice.
The ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ school programme is an innovative approach to the curriculum. It has been developed to fulfil the needs of schools in relation to their increasing awareness of the importance of the qualities and values necessary to create a peaceful world - which leads to high achievement for all.
In an unique but realistic way, the programme can enable children to really recognise that they can ‘make a difference’ to their world, and that they can choose to ‘create peace’
What is the ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ school programme?
The ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ school programme is a ‘whole school’ programme for Primary Schools that can be run by teachers as part of their everyday teaching practice. The ‘whole school package’ includes: two programmes – one for 5 – 7 yrs and one for 8 – 11yrs; 8 detailed Lesson Plans and a Review lesson for each programme; teachers training; comprehensive Resource Packs.
The Programme puts the child at the heart of their world. It brings the experience and an understanding of ‘peace’ into ALL aspects of a child’s life. Most children (and adults!) have not thought about ‘what peace means’
8 – 11yr programme: This programme provides the opportunity for teachers and children to experience where peace begins – ‘May Peace be in my Heart’ – and expands gradually, with each lesson, to encompass: friends and family, school, community, country, all living beings and the Earth – ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’
5 – 7yr programme: Focuses on ‘May Peace be in my Heart’ and expands gradually to encompass: friends, family, school, completing with ‘May Peace be in my Community’
• In Scotland: areas of – Personal and Social Development, Religious and Moral Education including Religious Observance, Values and Citizenship, Global Citizenship, Health Education. This programme can underpin the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ in many of the 8 new categories. It touches a wide range of cross-curricular subjects, including: Expressive Art, Geography, Ecology, Inclusion, Creative Writing and Manual Dexterity.
• In England: ‘Every Child Matters,‘National Healthy School Programme,’ SEAL, PSHE, Citizenship, global citizenship, plus cross-curricular subjects.
• The Aims and Learning Outcomes of each lesson are universal, and can link in with many curriculum across the world.
Some benefits to participating schools
‘I was eager for this programme in my school because it empowers my own teachers to appreciate the concepts and then teach. I believe that this sense of ultimate empowerment – (peace comes from within) and ultimate responsibility, (my peace resonates from me to others), raises every aspect of school life. It stimulates the natural love for learning, which also comes from within’ Joanne Caine, headteacher
Reviews from participating schools have shown that as the pupils recognise and develop their own self worth, and gain self esteem, ‘incidents’ of anti-social behaviour are dealt with by the children quickly and effectively, enabling them to move on in a positive way.
The programme introduces the ‘experience of peace’ into all aspects of school life, which can lead towards and encourage an ‘Ethos of Peace’ in every school that participates.
This is a simple, easy too follow, structured programme that enables teachers to spend less time lesson planning.
In Scotland the programme qualifies as part of a teachers 35hrs Continuous Professional Development
As an organisation, we have an international network that gives us the potential to be able to create a web site that will allow teachers and children to communicate with one another across the world, the focus will be ‘peace’ – thereby bringing in another dimension to ‘World Peace’ and including ‘Global Citizenship.’ This programme has and is being run in schools in Scotland, England and Germany.
With the introduction of the Global dimension, children can discover ‘what peace means’ to children in different countries and cultures e.g. in Africa, peace could mean having some food to eat! This recognition can inspire children to want to help people in different countries, thereby enabling them to become Global Citizens.
When we establish this programme into schools world-wide, we can create a unique network for our future generation that can really ‘make a difference!’
If you would like to know more about this programme, please contact:
Glenda Thornton
Email: glenda@worldpeace-uk.org
Tel: 01387 740642
Q: 'What did you discover during the peace programme that you think will help you the most in your life?'
'I discovered that peace can be FUN!'
'I discovered that nice warm feeling inside of you called 'peace' and I never knew you could be so relaxed'
'I will not harm trees because they are living things just like me. Peace is not always religious'
'It makes me feel different when I am doing the programme. Also I never thought peace was so strong'
'It has changed the way I think about peace because I say something nice, it makes people feel happy'
'It has made me understand how people feel'
'The Children enjoyed this programme. Each week they are encouraged to reflect on different aspects of peace. It was particularly relevant to their own experiences, which kept them motivated.'
'I was able to use the childrens experiences and knowledge gained during the programme, to inspire creative writing i.e. Peace Poems.'
'The children have been encouraged to reflect and to think about 'peace'. They are much more open to aspects of personal search, and have developed a good respect for each others ideas.'
'One of the most valuable parts of the programme has been learning about how relevant 'peace' is to children and how it incorporates Citizenship.'
'The most valuable part of the programme has been to allow the children the space and time to think about things, a time where they are not being tested, or expected to have the 'right' answer.'
I.D.E.A.S (International Development Education Association of Scotland)
The World Peace Prayer Society is an active member of IDEAS. IDEAS is a network of around 40 organisations in Scotland that actively support and promote Development Education, or Education for Global Citizenship.
For further information, please look at the IDEAS website: www.ideas-forum.org.uk
