“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” – Dr. Maria Montessori
Dr. Maria Montessori’s work included a goal to promote global understanding and international peace. At FSMA, peace education is a fundamental part of all of our classrooms. In our school, children begin to realize that they are part of a larger community and begin to understand their role in promoting kindness and respect.
At different ages, our approach to peace education is age-appropriate and student focused. On a daily basis, our teachers approach topics carefully and thoughtfully. We utilize current events as a discussion starter and the recent events at the Capitol Building will come up in many classrooms. We know that different students will arrive to class tomorrow with different information. Please know that we will build some background knowledge about the events (in a way that is developmentally appropriate) and give our students the space, time and guidance to make meaning out of it. As with other current events, we will listen, utilize the opportunities to teach or guide, and offer support to our students as they process the information.
As current events come up at home, we invite you to share our focus on promoting peace, to give your child space to process, and to listen/engage in discussions that follow your child’s lead.