Peace education

Schools are concerned to develop young people's ability to participate in discussing important political issues. They also aim to develop young people's everyday skills and attitudes to overcoming conflict and living peaceably in their schools, neighbourhoods and cities. 

Hiroshima Day - 6 August

Hiroshima Day is a good time to consider the importance of peace education in education for citizenship. It marks the day in 1945 near the end of World War II when the city of Hiroshima in Japan was destroyed by one single nuclear bomb, dropped by the United States Air Force. More than 100,000 people were killed in Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, and many deaths took place later as a result of injuries and nuclear contamination. 

You can also find an interesting and informative account of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Wikipedia - the free-content encyclopedia. 

The existence of nuclear weapons has had a dramatic impact on international relations since 1945, from the Cold War to current concerns with control of weapons of mass destruction. 

SCND Hiroshima Education Pack for schools

Scottish CND has produced a pack, in consultation with the Modern Studies Association, which explores some of the issues in secondary school contexts. It includes but extends beyond modern studies. The materials aim to raise awareness of this important political issue and to develop skills of discussion, advocacy and critical evaluation.

Scottish CND also produced the 60/60 Anthology, a collection of 60 pages of moving poems and prose examining the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Scottish poets and writers, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the bombings in 2005. The anthology is a powerful stimulus for discussing peace education with students.

Overcoming conflict: what is peace education?

In a Scottish Parliament debate on education for peace the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People subscribed to the definition of peace education as 'encompassing alternatives to violence in all areas from the playground onwards'. He commended the work of the World Peace Prayer Society.

The World Peace Prayer Society is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), founded in 1955 in Japan in response to the devastation caused by Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1990 the society became an NGO in affiliation with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations. 

The organisation's activities are local and international and include 'World Peace Flag Ceremonies', Peace Poles planting and a school 'Peace Pals' network'. For more information contact Glenda Thornton glenda@worldpeace.fslife.co.uk 

Juniper Peace Education Programme

This programme for schools aims to help young people create happier lives for themselves and increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. It has proved particularly useful with classes who are experiencing some difficulty or a class transitioning to high school.

The programme is a structured series of small group experiences for primary and secondary students. It runs one day a week for six weeks with one or more classes at a time. Small groups of 6-8 children meet consecutively for one-hour sessions. The sessions include relaxation, quiet sitting and affirmations (created by the children themselves). Each group develops their own set of 'agreements' or 'ground rules' and they are encouraged to work through areas of their life which may worry or concern them and which they would like to change.

This is one programme amongst several offered by Unipaz-UK, whose aim is to contribute to UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) vision for a global culture of peace.

Learn Peace

Learn Peace is a collection of learning and teaching resources. Topics include war and conflict, World War II, pacifism and non-violence, and war and the environment. They are mostly for secondary age learners, but include some early years material. This is a project of the Peace Pledge Union.

Article 12 in Scotland

Article 12 is an independent, youth-led network that works across Scotland, Europe and the EuroMed Region. It promotes youth rights as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the European White Paper on Youth.

Pax Christi

Peace of Christ is a gospel-based, lay-inspired, peacemaking movement. The website offers a range of teaching resources and activities for young people to participate in. Founded by the Catholic Church, membership is open to individuals, groups and organisations of all faiths who are in sympathy with its aims and values. 

Peace events

International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace

This is an annual festival bringing together artists, scholars, spiritual activists and speakers from a wide range of spiritual traditions.

As part of the 2nd International Festival held in Edinburgh 2005, a Young People's Debate on Peace Education and Citizenship was held at the Scottish Parliament. This was jointly organised by the Middle East Festival and the Scottish Parliament Outreach Services. In the words of Deputy Presiding Officer Murray Tosh: 

'This is a wonderful opportunity for children from across Scotland to debate the words on their Parliament's Mace: compassion, wisdom, justice and integrity. Exploring how these concepts apply to the work of the Parliament and link in with the various faiths represented is a challenge – but one I feel confident they will enjoy.'

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