The Role of Language in Peace Education

Abstract

It is a well recognized fact that peace education is one of the most planned processes to raise learners' critical consciousness. Mostly peace educators believe that it provides students with a deep understanding of their social and political contexts while at the same time considering the possibilities for action and change. Many speak that the process of education can impart in all students social „goods‟, values and skills; once we give the relevant information and experience, individual students can be the agents in promoting local, national and international peace, thus transforming the societies into a peaceful one.

While we analyze the present situation of the absence of peace in the contemporary world, we can hardly find any nation living an ideal peaceful life which is free from various kinds of peace issues. These include violation of human rights, social injustice, and gender discrimination, intolerance towards other cultures, crime against women, child abuse, religious conflicts, inhumane treatment with minorities and the non-serious attitude towards environmental sustainability. Taking into account our own society in India, where we are facing the same issues, we urgently need to address such issues in our education system to step forward towards peace and tranquility.

There are many different paths to peace that are explained to students while teaching about peace education programs. Each different form of peace issue requires a unique way of teaching. For reflecting ideas, beliefs and concepts, children are encouraged to cooperate with peers to share information. Discussion is considered as a valuable form of interaction between the students and the educator. Students are left to discuss, comment, or decide about the solution to the problem. Teachers' questions are the best way to start a discussion; students are also invited to ask questions throughout the peace education class. However, language is the core requirement for teaching peace education, as it is impossible to communicate and comprehend learning about the issues without having the ability to understand the language spoken.