Los Angeles School Peace Class

Recently, I had the opportunity to guide a peace class with twenty-two 8th graders at one of Los Angeles ’ most caring Charter Schools. The school is located in a very challenging neighborhood and it is a battle, 24/7, for the teachers and principal to keep the children safe. I happened to visit during a week in which they were embroiled in the standardized testing required nationally by the No Child Left Behind act. Actually, as journalist Ann Hulbert points out in today’s Sunday NY Times, there is nothing standardized about the testing. Each state can devise their own protocols making it impossible to track results. Success rates are all over the place, from 77% failure rate in Florida to 4% in Wisconsin . But more important, this mandate seems to be having a negative effect on our kids.

The teacher working with me at the Charter School , an amazing woman who left a cushy teaching position at a private school to be with our more underprivileged angels, told me the tests created so much anxiety amongst the student body, many children simply would not come to school. On the other hand, when they heard they would be getting a peace class, based on “Where Peace Lives”, my first book about finding the Three Keys to peace, they came in droves. She also told me they had heard I would be giving out peace diplomas, acknowledging them as peacemakers, and that was something they really wanted.

What this showed me is that our global educational curriculum has to decide, once and for all, to place a value on what kind of human beings our children are and will become. With that in mind, I pose three questions for your consideration:

• Is learning how to resolve conflicts peacefully less important than a good grade on a math exam?


• Is learning tolerance less important than an English exam?


• Is confronting, in a positive format, our children’s three biggest challenges: gang violence, racial slurs/bullying and sexual discrimination, (Yes- this is shockingly true!!) less important than knowing who the 23rd President was?

For me, given the fact that we live in the most violent chapter of our human history, the answer is no. We can no longer afford the luxury to blame, judge or hate. It is time to face the truth that tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness are more learned traits than they are innate. Time, I believe, to learn how to get along.

Peace is a choice, at every age and in every circumstance. We can...no we MUST make a difference.

Debbie Robins

Producer/Author/Consultant

Where Peace Lives

Make peace your gift this year

http://www.WherePeaceLives.com

CLICK ON THE THREE KEYS TO SET PEACE FREE

Mothers-Let's Kick Some Peace Dust Today

Where Peace Lives wishes every mother around the world a happy Mother’s Day! We salute you for your unending love, compassion and promise of peace for our children. Peace is a choice, at every age. We can...no, we ARE making a difference.

We also salute Maria Shriver, first lady of our state of California- our ‘mother figure’! Maria...thank you for your endless commitment to improving our lives and the lives of our children.

We are humbled to share that Where Peace Lives ranked #4 on Amazon’s children’s best seller list last week, with only Harry Potter#1, Harry Potter #2 and Harry Potter#3 above us. We were also #2 in the nation on Barnes and Nobles best seller list, only second to Harry Potter. May our peace angel continue to fly with the wonderful wizards of J. K. Rowling’s phenomenal world.

Where Peace Lives poses a Mother’s Day challenge. Mothers of the world...(and father’s, we will be turning our attention/praise to you next month!) consider taking these three easy steps for peace:

#1: Read books to your children about the great peacemakers. Begin with Deepak Chopra’s new book, “Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment”. It’s incredible! Please consider Where Peace Lives too. Scholastic Publishing, one of the most important publishers of educational books for young people, has appropriate books for all age levels.

#2: Make ‘service’/volunteerism an ingrained part of your child’s life. When we serve others we find peace. It is also the greatest reference point for quickly building a young person’s self esteem.

#3: March into the principals office of your child’s school. Sit down and don’t get up until they agree to make Peace a class, at every grade level. Peace has to be right after English and just before history. Living in the most violent chapter of our human history, what is more important - how our children do on standardized test after standardized test or what kind of human beings they are and will become?

When we finally commit to study, learn and practice peace, our world will become a more peaceful place. Where Peace Lives is a call to action for children and adults alike to strengthen their peace muscle. TAKE THE WHERE PEACE LIVES JOURNEY TO CHANGE THE WORLD!