Montessori Peace Education: Peacemakers of the World

Throughout time, the word “peacemaker” has been used to describe someone who creates peace by ending conflict. Though, for as long as humans have been on the earth, warfare has been part of our lives. In fact, up until the mid-19th century, warfare was considered by many to be a noble activity.

Henri Dunant challenged this belief by creating the Red Cross in 1863. Winner of the first Nobel Prize (1901) and one of the founders of the modern peace movement, most of the peace organizations today owe their origins to him. As children become more self-aware, they begin to develop sensitivity and awareness for people of other cultures and the global environment.

Montessori Peace Education: Peacemakers of the World

Montessori advocated that children are “the hope of peace for the world" and that we must learn to educate them in such a way that they will be able to develop their potential as human beings and reveal to us the "spiritual embryo of humankind.” (Holistic Peace Education, January 17, 2008.)

By studying the peacemakers of the world as part of their Montessori curriculum, they begin to develop a global sense of peace and harmony. They learn to accept and appreciate cultural differences that are crucial to the development of world peace.

In a continuing Peacemaker Series, I will explore the men and women who have made major contributions on behalf of world peace. At the end of each blog, there will be an activity to use in your Montessori classroom that will help encourage students of all ages to think about the contributions of the peacemakers and how to incorporate their teachings into their lives.

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Thursday, January 17, 2008.