Education

Children need peace education

Britain is the only country in the EU to recruit 16 year olds to the Armed Forces. Quakers believe that schools receiving input from the military should also include peace education in their curriculum.

UN international day of peace

Friday 21 September is the UN international day of peace, and QPSW has some materials available for teachers to use in secondary school assemblies.

Through peace education work QPSW supports those who encourage young people's pursuit of nonviolent lifestyles and approaches to conflict.  QPSW works closely with primary and secondary schools to develop peace education initiatives.  

We focus on all aspects of peace education, with work for peace and about peace, seen as having a distinct, though interrelated focus. 

Education about peace includes:

• exploring the issues of war
• arms and disarmament
• conscientious objection
• human rights, citizenship and social justice
• challenging widely held assumptions

Education for peace includes:

• teaching the skills of peacemaking by examining the nature of conflict
• introducing conflict resolution, mediation and problem solving skills and techniques.

Peace Education Network and Teachers TV

As part of the peace education work QPSW is a member of the Peace Education Network (PEN). PEN worked with Teachers TV to make a programme on the topic in spring 2010 and broadcast in June of that year. 

You might also like to visit the following pages:

• Commemorating World War I - an opportunity to educate for peace [PDF: 172 kb]
• Peaceful primary schools - 21 June 2012 article by Izzy Cartwright in the Friend [offsite link]
• More about the Quaker peace testimony and a workshop pack
• Volunteering and summer schools for young people
• Preparing for peer mediation
• A Quaker view on... leaflet (covers justice and equality as well as peace)
• Speakers for free - peace education

Geneva Summer School

Every July 25 young people take part in a 12-day Summer School in Geneva, which is run by the Quaker UN Office. This event has been running annually since the early 1950s.

Information on how to apply can be found on the Jobs page from early January every year.

The programme includes:

• talks from UN civil servants, country diplomats and NGO representatives
• visits to the institutions of the UN, the Red Cross and the UNHCR
• informal discussion sessions at Quaker House

The programme follows the subject areas of the three QUNO Programme staff:

• Peace & Disarmament
• Trade & Development
• Human Rights & Refugees

Quaker Schools

For more information on all Quaker Schools please visit their website: http://www.quakerschools.co.uk/ [offsite link]