Khalsa Celebrates International Day of Peace

“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.”

-Maria Montessori

A tireless advocate of peace through education and a two time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize (1949 and 1950), Maria Montessori’s teachings of peace are actively taught at Montessori schools all over the world. It gives us great pride to be part of her greatest aspiration; create a better world by nurturing the spiritual growth of children.

Nurturing the spirit involves cultivating mindfulness, silence and reflection, learning to appreciate the interconnectedness of all things, a true reverence for nature, and cultivating a peaceful spirit that feels empathy, generosity and love.

At Khalsa, we celebrated International Peace Day on Thursday, Sept. 21^st. At the elementary campus, the morning started by all the students and staff acknowledging that while it was a special day, peace is a commitment to every moment of our life. Yes, we are all on the road to growth but we embrace the importance of striving for peaceful interactions with one another. We gathered in the amphitheater by our peace pole to sing “Light a Candle for Peace”. We joined many Montessori schools all around the world in singing this song and it felt wonderful to be united with fellow beings in our quest for peace. The morning assembly concluded with our daily Earth pledge which pledges allegiance to the Earth, other species and the promise to work towards dignity and peace amongst the entire human family. In class, the teachers and students talked about Maria Montessori’s contribution to peace education and ways in which each member of the class community can practice being peaceful everyday. At the primary campus, each class community gathered to read a book that stated the message of peace, shared ways they can be peaceful to one another, talked about ways their love light can be brightened and gathered outdoors, either at the peace pole or in the front yard by the sculpture, to release oodles of peace all around the world!

What is unparalleled about Montessori education is its emphasis on providing daily experiences that nurture the spirit along with cognitive growth. From cultivating a sense of wonder about the cosmos and seeing the interdependence of humans with other species & Earth to recognizing and appreciating kind deeds, demonstrating empathy and resolving inter-personal conflicts, students learn to embody respect for self, others and the environment. Students become progressively adept at using the tools and techniques modeled by older peers and adults to become more peaceful. The hallmarks of a collaborative community are members who have peace within, work for peace without and celebrate each member’s uniqueness.

I offer you peace;

I offer you love;

I offer you friendship;

I hear you cry;

I see your beauty;

I feel your pain;

My wisdom flows from my spirit within;

I salute that spirit in you.

Let us work together for peace.