The school community is not always a neutral setting for children. Schools can facilitate a pupil’s journey of discovery about their own identity, other people and the world around them. This helps children to formulate their own view of the world, and to manage and articulate their own emotions. The school community can also reinforce the development of aggressive responses to conflict, however.

The school community is influenced by many internal and external factors such as the social context, the media, and the environment. The interpersonal relationships, and the style and approaches to teaching are as important as the content of the curriculum. This means:

• All adults in the school should model what is being taught about respecting others and resolving conflict nonviolently.
• The components of Education for Peace must be implicit in all school structures including the school ethos and anti-bullying strategy.
• Policy documents with references to Education for Peace should be displayed throughout the school and referred to regularly in lessons and in activities such as themed assemblies, school plays and concerts.

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Welcome to the Woodcraft Folk

We are delighted to welcome the Woodcraft Folk as members of the Peace Education Network