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Unit 23 Lesson 7
Education for peace
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• analysed some terms related to peace keeping
• read some extracts on the value of education in promoting peace
• written an article on ways of promoting peace
A What do you understand by the following expressions? Discuss in pairs.
Coping with conflict
Peace education
Tolerance
B In 1994, the International President of UNJCEF made a statement on the aims of education. Here is an extract from it. Read it and answer the questions that follow.
"Education in all its shapes seems to be the key to master conflict and to prevent intolerance. Research and experience prove that peaceful co-existence can be taught. Topics, such as mediation, coping with conflict, peace education and tolerance cannot be seen as secondary or as a luxury. In primary education, they should receive- the same attention as reading, writing and arithmetic ".
1 The common concept about education is the acquisition of knowledge contained in books. But the UN1CEF President is aiming at a higher objective in education. What is that?
2 What do you understand by 'peaceful co-existence"? Can you give some examples from our country where there is peaceful co-existence? Can you think of any situation where there is no peaceful co-existence?
3 Why is the UNICEF President so emphatic about the possibility of teaching peaceful co-existence?
4 At what level should this teaching start?
5 What sort of topics should be included under this teaching?
6 Look at the two words "mediation" and "tolerance". What does each mean?
7 Give an example of conflict situations in your college or local area, village or town, where either "tolerance" or "mediation" or both would be useful to defuse tensions and bring about peace.
C Read this extract from "The International Fellowship of Reconciliation; Education for Tolerance"
"Education for Mutual Understanding and Cultural Heritage" is about self-respect, respect for others, and the improvement of relationships among people of differing cultural traditions. The themes should enable pupils to respect and value themselves and others; to appreciate the interdependence of people within society; to know about and understand what is shared as well as what is different about their cultural traditions; and to appreciate how conflict can be handled in non-violent ways.
Now work in pairs and discuss the following.
1 Can you give examples of 'people of different cultural traditions' in Bangladesh?
2 What is our general attitude towards 'people of different cultural traditions'?
- Do we consider them different, from us and therefore avoid them?
- Do we actively oppose them and their traditions'?
- Do we respect their traditions and live side by side peacefully?
3 What would 'education for tolerance' teach young people?
D In order to establish a Culture of Peaceful Co-existence, sonic challenges and questions automatically arise. Three are given below. Work in pairs and give your opinion about each of these challenges.
1 To what extent will young people mix socially across racial and religious groups once they have formal education?
2 To what extent will policy makers gain information about the views and aspirations of the minority communities?
3 To what extent will young people help and contribute to build peace?
E Write an article of about 200 words for The Rising Sun on any one of the questions you have discussed in task D.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading for specific information, speaking, writing.
Functions.
Discussing issues, arguing and reasoning, expressing possibility.
Grammar/Structure.
Modal verbs: should, could, might, have to, must possibility: can, could.
Vocabulary.
tolerance,
co-existence, mutual, interdependence. Reconciliation.
This text will be replaced
Unit 23 Lesson 7
Education for peace
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• analysed some terms related to peace keeping
• read some extracts on the value of education in promoting peace
• written an article on ways of promoting peace
A What do you understand by the following expressions? Discuss in pairs.
Coping with conflict
Peace education
Tolerance
B In 1994, the International President of UNJCEF made a statement on the aims of education. Here is an extract from it. Read it and answer the questions that follow.
"Education in all its shapes seems to be the key to master conflict and to prevent intolerance. Research and experience prove that peaceful co-existence can be taught. Topics, such as mediation, coping with conflict, peace education and tolerance cannot be seen as secondary or as a luxury. In primary education, they should receive- the same attention as reading, writing and arithmetic ".
1 The common concept about education is the acquisition of knowledge contained in books. But the UN1CEF President is aiming at a higher objective in education. What is that?
2 What do you understand by 'peaceful co-existence"? Can you give some examples from our country where there is peaceful co-existence? Can you think of any situation where there is no peaceful co-existence?
3 Why is the UNICEF President so emphatic about the possibility of teaching peaceful co-existence?
4 At what level should this teaching start?
5 What sort of topics should be included under this teaching?
6 Look at the two words "mediation" and "tolerance". What does each mean?
7 Give an example of conflict situations in your college or local area, village or town, where either "tolerance" or "mediation" or both would be useful to defuse tensions and bring about peace.
C Read this extract from "The International Fellowship of Reconciliation; Education for Tolerance"
"Education for Mutual Understanding and Cultural Heritage" is about self-respect, respect for others, and the improvement of relationships among people of differing cultural traditions. The themes should enable pupils to respect and value themselves and others; to appreciate the interdependence of people within society; to know about and understand what is shared as well as what is different about their cultural traditions; and to appreciate how conflict can be handled in non-violent ways.
Now work in pairs and discuss the following.
1 Can you give examples of 'people of different cultural traditions' in Bangladesh?
2 What is our general attitude towards 'people of different cultural traditions'?
- Do we consider them different, from us and therefore avoid them?
- Do we actively oppose them and their traditions'?
- Do we respect their traditions and live side by side peacefully?
3 What would 'education for tolerance' teach young people?
D In order to establish a Culture of Peaceful Co-existence, sonic challenges and questions automatically arise. Three are given below. Work in pairs and give your opinion about each of these challenges.
1 To what extent will young people mix socially across racial and religious groups once they have formal education?
2 To what extent will policy makers gain information about the views and aspirations of the minority communities?
3 To what extent will young people help and contribute to build peace?
E Write an article of about 200 words for The Rising Sun on any one of the questions you have discussed in task D.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading for specific information, speaking, writing.
Functions.
Discussing issues, arguing and reasoning, expressing possibility.
Grammar/Structure.
Modal verbs: should, could, might, have to, must possibility: can, could.
Vocabulary.
tolerance,
co-existence, mutual, interdependence. Reconciliation.