Working Together For Peace

10/30/2003

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when adults are afraid of the light." - Plato

WORKING TOGETHER FOR PEACE

Early Childhood Australia offers advice on working together for peace and respect in their publication Our Part in Peace:

"The journey towards peace and respect involves sharing, documenting and thinking about questions, stories and concerns about what happens in their community. Each time Swanston Street Children's Centre explores an issue or question about peace and respect they follow these steps.

1. Raise a question, concern or issue about what is a peaceful, safe and respectful community.
2. Talk with each other, listen to each other and document our concerns, stories and questions.
3. Look for similarities and differences in how we understand and practice peace, safety and respect in our community.
4. Work together to find ways of using our similarities and differences to make our community more peaceful, safe and respectful.
5. Critically reflect on who is advantaged, disadvantaged, silenced or marginalised by how we work together to make a difference in our community.

"You can use creative and expressive arts in each of these steps, to show the diverse cultural histories, experiences, knowledges, values and beliefs that form the community. At Swanston Street they made a safe space called the 'gallery' in which to display artwork and stories and to take the time to begin and renew conversations about peace and respect with each other."

To learn more about World Forum Alliance member Early Childhood Australia, and its publications, go to: http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0021

To learn about and order the Exchange guidebook for integrating peace education, anti-bias perspective, and democratic practice into your curriculum, Hearing Everyone's Voice, go to: http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0022

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.