tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7000662403429444567.post5728157232835200438..comments2023-09-04T08:37:32.551-05:00Comments on Teach Peace: The First DayJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879958940213101805noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7000662403429444567.post-54547152484147780442007-09-13T13:13:00.000-05:002007-09-13T13:13:00.000-05:00Children don’t get to choose what neighborhood the...Children don’t get to choose what neighborhood they are born in. They don’t get to decide how much money their parents make, or how many books are on their shelves at home. We are all born into this world as equal, and until society intervenes with its way of discretely segmenting us into race, class, economic and privilege lines we are playing on the same field. <BR/> <BR/> Sometimes crossing these lines that are invisible, but so clearly drawn is daunting. You are out of a comfort zone in some ways, maybe by the way you look, talk, dress, or act. Why have you stepped out of your perimeter of comfort? To help... out of curiosity... by accident? <BR/><BR/> And even more so, what makes you stay?<BR/> <BR/> Lao Tzu, a man who provided the principles behind Taoism taught that the only true way to peace is starting with your heart. The only true way to peace, is finding a place within yourself that can be accepting of everyone, no matter their similarities and differences. Acceptance is different from tolerance. It’s harder to come by as a human being. Accept that all people carry power, the power to be great in numerous amounts of ways, and by accepting this, you also accept the fact that there is no way you can change or save someone, but instead can empower them to change and help themselves.<BR/> <BR/> As you decide to take steps out of your comfort zone, and find yourself in front of a class of children who probably look, talk, dress and act a lot different from you, think about who they are as people... How can you teach them peace and justice in a way that will empower them to take the 45 minute lesson out of the classroom, and into the hallways, and lunchrooms, out to recess and on the school bus. Maybe even...into their home, the street they live on and the neighborhoods where they play. <BR/><BR/> How can you get concepts to resonate with children who might not be able to relate to you, a college student with silky hair, and a home on an island in Maine? Find out who they are. Learn their names. What they like, what they love. How they express themselves, what they do when they are scared? Find out about your class, and accept them for who they are. Teach them Peace Games as if it was meant just for them, and written by yourself. Adapt it, discover what works, what doesn’t and go with it. After all Peace Games is supposed to be fun.Corrie *https://www.blogger.com/profile/05662672454255206092noreply@blogger.com