Teaching & Learning Peace

Download or read book Teaching & Learning Peace written by William M. Timpson and published by Atwood Publications. This book was released on 2002 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wouldn't it be nice if people all over the world could get on the worldwide web, click on peace and be hit with an electronic energy impulse that made them experience a true moment without conflict, a moment of real peace? Even then, we would have no more than the foundation for building a new culture of peace. Such a foundation is actually the first goal in the ambitious structure Timpson builds to provide models, tools and techniques for pursuing a new culture of peace through classroom teaching. While we hear the words of many theorists and people devoted to peace and justice, the ultimate strength of this book lies in the practical way Timpson connects the pursuit of peace to the individual, the classroom, the home, the workplace and the world. The Introduction describes the burden of the book, the questions to be answered: "How do we teach about peace? How do we help young people manage their own anger and aggressiveness when violence is so prevalent in their lives, at school and on the streets, in the news, on television, in the movies and in the lyrics of some of their music? When memories of attacks are raw and calls for retaliation are shrill, how does an educator--or anyone in a leadership role who is committed to the ideals of a sustainable peace--open a meaningful dialogue about alternatives to violence? At its core, democracy demands open and honest discussions and we can do much in our schools, colleges and universities to support responsible citizenship." Timpson addresses these questions in two parts. Part I lays the groundwork by pointing out where violent behavior originates and offering alternatives on a level familiar to both teachers and students. The chapters in Part I offer practical approaches to understanding how such things as the desire for revenge manifest themselves on both the world stage and in the classroom. Part II connects the values and models of Part I with specific classroom teaching strategies, models and methods--offering tools and ideas for applying the concepts explored in Part I.