FAS peace education seminar in Pune
The Foundation for Advancement of Science, Bhopal, organized a Seminar titled “Fostering Intellectual and Spiritual Growth” in Pune. The seminar called attention to the need for the spiritual and intellectual aspects of learning to work together harmoniously in approaches to education that seek to equip young people to build a more peaceful society. The seminar, held at the Poona Club on February 24th, was attended by 35 participants representing 14 different schools and educational organizations, and featured four speakers addressing a range of topics.
A central concern of the seminar was peace education in all its aspects. Peace education has been promoted internationally for years by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Steps are being taken to develop and strengthen it on the regional, national, and local levels. One example is the recent effects of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in India. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has stated that “Education for peace seeks to nurture ethical development with values, attitudes and skills required for living in harmony within oneself and with others including nature.”
Speakers at the seminar addressed the concerns of peace education from a variety of angles: Mr. Deepak Dalal, environmentalist and author of the popular children’s books Lakshadweep Adventure, Ladakh Adventure, Ranthambhor Adventure and Snow Leopard Adventure, spoke about creating awareness in urban young people of the rich natural diversity of India. Accompanying his presentation with a breathtaking array of photos of natural wonders in every corner of India, he drew attention to the importance of teaching our young people about their environment. Appreciation for the beauty of the natural environment is a pivotal part of education for conservation.
Mr. Payam Shoghi, Director of Foundation for Advancement of Science-Bhopal, reviewed some of the aspects of the current, content-based educational system, and presented elements of a new approach to education that equips young people to become conscious subjects of their own growth, and active participants in social transformation. He outlined Foundation for Advancement of Science’s efforts toward this end, including in-service teacher trainings in cooperative learning and cooperative games, conflict resolution, communication, and new approaches to classroom discipline which promote student self-discipline both in and outside the school. Mr. Shoghi also explained the Junior Youth Empowerment Program, which addresses the special needs of youth aged 12-15, who are in a transitional phase in their lives.
Dr. H.T.D. Rost, of New Era Foundation, Panchgani, and author of numerous books and textbooks, shared insights from his many decades of work as an educationist in the U.S., Kenya, Uganda and India. Dr. Rost’s conviction is that peace education is most effective when not only the content of the textbook delves into the concept of peace, but the classroom structure also gives children the opportunity to practice cooperation, conflict resolution, and empathy during the lesson. His newly released textbooks for standards I-V, The Foundation of Peace, published by FAS, employ methods of training young children to be peaceful and active "peacemakers" using cooperative learning and cooperative games.
Dr. Vasudevan Nair, Principal of Riverdale International School, Pune, discussed the way science and spirituality can work together harmoniously in approaches to education that seek to cultivate the limitless potentialities of the human being.
Delia Maria from FOGM who has written a manual titled “Teaching Communal Harmony in the classroom” attended the seminar. She is trying to network with the other participants she met there to hold a FAS workshop for Pune teachers in July.
For peace education literature or to organize a teacher training workshop write to FAS, 174, Sector-2, Shakti Nagar , Bhopal–462 024, Madhya Pradesh (India), Tel: 755 4274110; Email: director@fasindia.org; payam@sancharnet.in; Website: www.fasindia.org
A central concern of the seminar was peace education in all its aspects. Peace education has been promoted internationally for years by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Steps are being taken to develop and strengthen it on the regional, national, and local levels. One example is the recent effects of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in India. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has stated that “Education for peace seeks to nurture ethical development with values, attitudes and skills required for living in harmony within oneself and with others including nature.”
Speakers at the seminar addressed the concerns of peace education from a variety of angles: Mr. Deepak Dalal, environmentalist and author of the popular children’s books Lakshadweep Adventure, Ladakh Adventure, Ranthambhor Adventure and Snow Leopard Adventure, spoke about creating awareness in urban young people of the rich natural diversity of India. Accompanying his presentation with a breathtaking array of photos of natural wonders in every corner of India, he drew attention to the importance of teaching our young people about their environment. Appreciation for the beauty of the natural environment is a pivotal part of education for conservation.
Mr. Payam Shoghi, Director of Foundation for Advancement of Science-Bhopal, reviewed some of the aspects of the current, content-based educational system, and presented elements of a new approach to education that equips young people to become conscious subjects of their own growth, and active participants in social transformation. He outlined Foundation for Advancement of Science’s efforts toward this end, including in-service teacher trainings in cooperative learning and cooperative games, conflict resolution, communication, and new approaches to classroom discipline which promote student self-discipline both in and outside the school. Mr. Shoghi also explained the Junior Youth Empowerment Program, which addresses the special needs of youth aged 12-15, who are in a transitional phase in their lives.
Dr. H.T.D. Rost, of New Era Foundation, Panchgani, and author of numerous books and textbooks, shared insights from his many decades of work as an educationist in the U.S., Kenya, Uganda and India. Dr. Rost’s conviction is that peace education is most effective when not only the content of the textbook delves into the concept of peace, but the classroom structure also gives children the opportunity to practice cooperation, conflict resolution, and empathy during the lesson. His newly released textbooks for standards I-V, The Foundation of Peace, published by FAS, employ methods of training young children to be peaceful and active "peacemakers" using cooperative learning and cooperative games.
Dr. Vasudevan Nair, Principal of Riverdale International School, Pune, discussed the way science and spirituality can work together harmoniously in approaches to education that seek to cultivate the limitless potentialities of the human being.
Delia Maria from FOGM who has written a manual titled “Teaching Communal Harmony in the classroom” attended the seminar. She is trying to network with the other participants she met there to hold a FAS workshop for Pune teachers in July.
For peace education literature or to organize a teacher training workshop write to FAS, 174, Sector-2, Shakti Nagar , Bhopal–462 024, Madhya Pradesh (India), Tel: 755 4274110; Email: director@fasindia.org; payam@sancharnet.in; Website: www.fasindia.org
posted by deepamariam @ 10:07 PM
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