2.1 Working towards a coherent ethos of peace

The diagram below is a representation of the overlapping layers of peace that contribute to an interconnected web of relationships – a coherent ecology – of peace in an educational community. Note that ‘learning to relate’ is at the core of the diagram with each layer describing the interlinked components of this. Each layer represents one of the four aspects of peace that you have studied in this course.

Maximise

Figure 3 The overlapping layers of peace

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A diagram illustrating the overlapping layers of peace. At the centre is an oval shaped section with the words ‘learning to relate’, which is overlapped by other sections: ‘to oneself’, ‘to each other’, ‘together as a school’, ‘to society’. There is an arrow pointing down from those ovals to the bottom of the diagram which reads: ‘PEACE Healthier relationships at every level’. Around the outside of the diagram are four rectangular boxes. The box top left reads: ‘Peace with myself: Taking Care’. The box top right reads: ‘Peace between us: Working together’. The box bottom left reads: ‘Peace among us: Coming Together’. The box bottom right reads: ‘Peace in the world: Taking a Stand’.

Figure 3 The overlapping layers of peace

As you can see, the layers of peace education that you have covered during this course interrelate, and a peaceful school community depends on every member feeling empowered to play their part, however small. Peace at the Heart reminds us that:

Sustainable peaceful communities endure amongst the comings and goings of staff, students and families. It can take many years of carefully planned work to establish a long-lasting ethos of peace throughout every aspect of the school.