I talk about peace often in my classroom. Well, that’s partially true. When children talk about peace, I jump right in. They have a lot to say. We adults should listen more.
Years ago, when I first had the the good sense to listen to children, it struck me to paint a peace dove in our parking lot, right in front of the entrance to school. Janine, an artist and parent of Juliet (Starry Night post) and Audrey, was happy to do the job. Since then, she has returned many times to repaint this simple, beautiful bird. It has become a symbol to welcome all the families and visitors who come into our school. Crossing the threshold of peace.
Peace is really very simple. Children know. When asked, “What is peace?”, they pause, and pull an answer from their soul. I think the soul is a heart that has lived. “My new baby sister, dancing, dinner with my family”… true peace. That’s what children say.
It took me a while in my teaching to let go of the structure of teaching peace. I remember interviewing children when we were sitting under a Peace Portal that we had made in the classroom.
I asked, “How does peace make you feel?”
Colin answered, “It makes me feel hearty.”
“Oh… it makes you feel strong?”
“No, Jennie. It makes me feel heart-y.” Then he patted his heart.
Oh my goodness!
Colin answered with a why-are-you-asking, and a don’t-you-already-know, mindset. He was right; I did know. I was teaching peace as part of my curriculum. I realized that peace is learned by doing. I had to set the stage, be a role model, stop and talk at all the little and big things that happened in the classroom, read plenty of books aloud that open the door for both goodness and evil- oh, the conversations we have are pretty intense; from fairy tales to the more subtle, like Templeton the rat in “Charlotte’s Web”. I made sure children felt comfortable saying what they thought and asking questions.
I was right. It made a difference. Thereafter, peace became something real. Now, peace in my classroom is something children just understand. Talking about it, or making a book, or designing a quilt happens as a reflection of what they already know and feel.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
So important to spread peace in this world and as always, you’re doing a great job of it!
Thank you, Marcia! 🙂
Love this Jennie! Peace is so important!
Thanks, Ritu! 🙂
🙂
A wonderful posting.
Thank you.
May I repost this?
Thank you, John.
Okay if I pass this on, with attribution of couse? On or about the 16th.
Absolutely, John.
Aw, Colin described peace so well — hearty! Love this post and the dove on the parking lot. We never can have too much peace. xo
We need to listen to children more. Their thoughts are unencumbered by bitter experience, social rules, or preconceptions.
Best wishes, Pete.
Well said Pete! Best to you.
Sehr Stark !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (*L*) wow Very strong,,, young lutes have only made their eifon in mind great
Thank you!
Please be very happy,, it’s great beitreag, continue to do so,, (*L*)
Out of the mouths… Bless them!
Indeed, Sarah!
Wonderful post, Jennie! I love Colin’s description! And the dove is a beautiful welcome to your school! 😄
I’m so glad you liked it, Sarah. ❤️
Great article, Jennie! I became a better teacher when I started listening to my students and then learned from them. They taught me that learning is a two-way street.
Yes! But it took us a little while to get that, didn’t it? We are all learners, and that’s a good thing.
Indeed, Jennie – lifelong learners!
Loved this! It’s so true.
Thank you!
What a beautiful post this is!
Thank you so much, Charles. I’m glad you liked it.
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Another wonderful post on teaching and learning from children by Jennie.
Thank you for reblogging!
Thank you for this post. It is inspirational. It deserves attention. I have shared the link to it to my Twitter feed and Facebook pages.
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Thank you for reblogging!
Those wonderful, innocent children are the true teachers of us all. They know that the life of fairy tales is how life is truly meant to be lived.
Love the dove!
Great post and lesson!
You are so right, Ren! Children are certainly the true teachers of us all. I’m glad you liked this. Many thanks!
Young children are so delightfully accepting of each other. The concept of world peace also makes me feel “hearty”.
Aww… Me too, Robbie. Many thanks!
This post made me feel very hearty too. I wish we could clone you or even send you back in time.
Aww… that’s so nice, Marlene. Thank you!
And so YOU have solved the puzzle of how to achieve peace in the Middle East….Let the children negotiate…
Sounds good to me! 🙂
In thinking about teachers, I think the best thing that I read was: “I made sure children felt comfortable saying what they thought and asking questions.”
Thanks, Dan. It makes a difference.
Reblogged this on Notes from An Alien and commented:
Extremely insightful and ponderable re-blog today…
Thank you for reblogging!
My honor; but, thank You for writing it in the first place 🙂
You are welcome!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience!
You are welcome!
Brilliant, Jennie. I wish we could put this post on billboards around the world ~ a newsreel. Out of the mouths of babes … ♥
Thanks so much, Tina. Out of the mouths of babes, indeed!
This is so meaningful to those children and you, too.
Open communication is a part of your gentle teaching atmosphere.
The painting of the Peace dove is such a great addition to your school. 🕊
Thank you, Robin. Children often see and understand better than adults, don’t they?
Yes! Children wish for less fighting in their lives.
There are many reasons we don’t have peace in this world, Jennie. Children should be the reason to live peacefully! 💞🕊
You are so right, Robin. Thank you for your words of wisdom. 🙂
Perfect peace. This is lovely, Jennie. We can learn much from the wisdom of little children if we but listen.
Yes we can, Norah. Thank you! 🙂
Jennie, this was a beautiful post.. Children are often much wiser than we ever give them credit for.. And I loved the answers given.. And what a wonderful symbol to paint as a welcome right in front of your school.. A beautiful message laid there for all to see, every day..
May we continue to teach Peace.. and find it in those moments of solitude and quiet.. As well as in the laughter and joy of others.
Blessings dear Jennie.. I wish I had had you as a teacher when I was a child 🙂
Love and Blessings
Sue ❤
Thank you so much, Sue. Through the eyes of babes… Best to you!
likewise Jennie xx
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Thank you!
So beautiful to learn about how you manage the topic of Peace and what the children think of it, Jennie.
Another wonderful post thank you 💐💕
Oh how wonderful, Jennie! This post blew me away. Kids are so full of wisdom…I think in part because they keep things simple ❤ and speak from their heart.
If you'd like, I'd be honored for you to contribute this post to Forgiving Fridays. As you may know, it's a creative prompt where I encourage readers to share about forgiveness however that lines up for them…. and Lord knows, peace certainly relates! Anyway if you'd like to do this, just add #ForgivingFridays as one of your tags and include a pingback to my most recent post (https://forgivingconnects.com/2017/08/04/todays-forgiving-fridays-endless-compassion/)
Jennie, sending you many blessings. Thank you for keeping so much love in the classroom, and beyond.
Debbie
Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed this. If I could ever figure out how to do that with this post to be part of your Forgiving Friday’s… just way beyond my technology skills. Many thanks! You are welcome to use the blog post in any way, though. Happy Monday!
Ha ha thanks Jennie. I’ll see what I can do 😊😊 Much love, Debbie
🙂😍😀
Hi Jennie,
I am going to share this for Forgiving Fridays. It is such a beautiful post. Normally, I only share blogs with a pingback to my post, and in this case I’m making an exception.
More tomorrow! Much love to you and those kids.
Debbie
Thank you, Debbie!
How lovely that the symbol of peace is close by. What a great idea. And I loved how the children taught you the nature of peace. 🙂
Thank you!
Wonderful, Jennie. I love how thoughtful your lessons are and how you pay attention and integrate everything into the children’s world and experience. Have a heart-y day. 🙂
Awww… that’s so kind, Diana. Thank you! A heart-y day to you as well! 🙂
When it comes to peace and love, kids can teach adults a lot more than we can teach them. Lovely post.
This is so heartwarming, Jennie. I too have the pleasure of teaching (and being taught) all about peace with young souls. I feel we are very lucky indeed. I love your sentence here: ‘I think the soul is a heart that has lived.’ Beautiful xx
Thank you so much, Hayley!
Wonderful!
Thank you!
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Thank you, Debbie. 🙂
I like this. Also, I’m sure you’ve created a safe haven for some of those children that if they can’t get stimulating conversation like this at home – or a listening ear – this can be achieved with you at school. I bet you’re most of their favourite teacher!
Thank you, Rhianna! The children do love me and often return to visit- even after they’re in high school. Nice!
How lovely!!
Reblogged this on The Perpetual Preschool and commented:
“Peace is learned by doing.” Thank you Jennie for reminding us that we need to be role models for peace.
Thank you so much!
“Peace is learned by doing.” Thank you Jennie for reminding us that we need to be role models for peace. May I repost this on my site, The Perpetual Preschool?
Daylene
http://perpetualpreschool.com
Absolutely! I would be honored. Thank you.
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Thank you!
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Thank you!
Thank you for this.
You are welcome.
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Thank you so much!