The International Day of Peace (or Peace Day) was established by the United Nations in 1981. It is observed around the world each year on September 21. According to the UN, “Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace”.
For those of us in Montessori, this idea is nothing new. In 1948 Dr. Montessori wrote, “Times have changed, and science has made great progress, and so has our work; but our principles have only been confirmed, and along with them our conviction that mankind can hope for a solution to its problems, among which the most urgent are those of peace and unity, only by turning its attention and energies to the discovery of the child and to the development of the great potentialities of the human personality in the course of its formation.” (From the foreword to “The Discovery of the Child”)A goal of peace has always been the cornerstone of Montessori education; we want to make the world a better place through the child. We believe they are our truest hope.
This year, Arbor will step up its celebration of Peace Day. At the Lavista Campus, the Primary, Elementary, and AP students will work together to create a collaborative art piece in celebration of peace. We will also gather early in the morning to read the UN Peace Day proclamation and sing in unison. At the Scott Campus, we invite all families and children to be a part of another collaborative art project.In an effort to spread peace beyond our campus, each family will receive a decorative peace rock that has been decorated either by the children or by a teacher. We hope that you will spread a tangible representation of peace in your neighborhood or community and hide the rock in a place where others might discover it.
Peace Day has been a yearly tradition at Arbor for some time now. The actual work of creating peace takes place every day in our classrooms through conflict mediation, learning to share the limited materials, and deepening our understanding of humans in our own society and around the world. On Peace Day, we pause to acknowledge our efforts and those of children and adults worldwide. John Lennon said it best, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one.”
Lora Boyd
Lower Elementary Teacher