History of Peace Education
History of Peace Education
Ian Harris
Professor emeritus, Department of Educational
Policy and Community Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
INTRODUCTION
Throughout history humans have taught each other conflict resolution techniques to avoid violence. Peace education is the process of teaching people about the threats of violence and strategies for peace. Peace educators try to build consensus about what peace strategies can bring maximum benefit to a group.
Peace education activities that attempt to end violence and hostilities can be carried out informally within communities or formally within institutional places of learning, like schools or colleges. Peace education has been practiced informally by generations of humans who want to resolve conflicts in ways that do not use deadly force. Indigenous peoples have conflict resolution traditions that have been passed down through millennia that help promote peace within their communities. Rather than killing each other over their disputes, they employ nonviolent dispute mechanisms that they hand down from generation to generation through informal peace education activities. Anthropologists have located on this planet at least 47 relatively peaceful societies (Banta, 1993). Although there are no written records, human beings throughout history have employed community-based peace education strategies to preserve their knowledge of conflict resolution tactics that promote their security. More formal peace education relies upon the written word or instruction through schooling institutions.
RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS THAT PROMOTE PEACE
Perhaps the earliest written records of guidelines that teach others about how to achieve peace comes through the world’s great religions. These religions – following the teaching of such prophets as Buddha, Baha’u’llah, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Moses, and Lao Tse – have specific scriptures that advance peace. Organized religions promote their own visions
Ian Harris
Professor emeritus, Department of Educational
Policy and Community Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
INTRODUCTION
Throughout history humans have taught each other conflict resolution techniques to avoid violence. Peace education is the process of teaching people about the threats of violence and strategies for peace. Peace educators try to build consensus about what peace strategies can bring maximum benefit to a group.
Peace education activities that attempt to end violence and hostilities can be carried out informally within communities or formally within institutional places of learning, like schools or colleges. Peace education has been practiced informally by generations of humans who want to resolve conflicts in ways that do not use deadly force. Indigenous peoples have conflict resolution traditions that have been passed down through millennia that help promote peace within their communities. Rather than killing each other over their disputes, they employ nonviolent dispute mechanisms that they hand down from generation to generation through informal peace education activities. Anthropologists have located on this planet at least 47 relatively peaceful societies (Banta, 1993). Although there are no written records, human beings throughout history have employed community-based peace education strategies to preserve their knowledge of conflict resolution tactics that promote their security. More formal peace education relies upon the written word or instruction through schooling institutions.
RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS THAT PROMOTE PEACE
Perhaps the earliest written records of guidelines that teach others about how to achieve peace comes through the world’s great religions. These religions – following the teaching of such prophets as Buddha, Baha’u’llah, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Moses, and Lao Tse – have specific scriptures that advance peace. Organized religions promote their own visions
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