Teachers as builders of peace

Abstract

An analysis of the history of the most recent generation can be a reason for optimism or for pessimism. Although we can see many facts that show the emergence of a culture of peace, we can also see a lot of suffering and violent problems, also in schools. These two parallel lines explain the interest of both the UN and UNESCO for affirming the Culture of Peace, as opposed to the old habits of violence.

The article comments on some International documents that encourage teachers to look for a culture of peace, by determining the main aims of an education for peace, beginning with the promotion of a sense of universal values and of the type of behaviours that support this new culture. Latter in the article, the practical implication of these documents is studied with reference to Spain and Great Britain, and also to the evaluation of the ideas proposed in these countries. In the latest part of the article the necessary conditions to build an authentic culture of peace, are analyzed, in the context of a reflection on the basis of human dignity. The author presents six strategies for the action of teachers who want to collaborate in the building of a culture of peace. He concludes by making some remarks about the relationship among truth, freedom and dialogue, maintaining that the search for the truth of the human being in the educational domain give rise to a positive dialogue with young people, as far from violence as from a total disinterest in the future of the younger generations.

Key words: International Year for a Culture of Peace, Peace educators, Moral education, Dialogue.

dialogue
peaces education

Citación recomendada | Recommended citation

Ibáñez-Martín, J. A. (2000) . Teachers as builders of peace. Revista Española de Pedagogía, 58(216). https://www.revistadepedagogia.org/rep/vol58/iss216/16