Peaceful elementary school: Students learn non-violent conflict resolution!

Peaceful elementary school: Students learn non-violent conflict resolution!

In the last few weeks everything at the school in Kulmbach has revolved around the motto “Peaceful primary school – peaceful after-school care”. Students had the opportunity to learn non-violent conflict resolution methods. Representatives of the Upper Franconian Victim Support Service and a chief inspector were also on site, giving the students valuable insights into the topic. The installation of a peace staircase, which was inaugurated during a school conference and which is intended to symbolize peaceful coexistence in the school premises, received particular attention. Overall, a class day on the topic of violence prevention was organized by the Institute for Innovative Education in Bamberg, during which the children were able to practice creative approaches to conflict resolution. Thanks go to the support association and the “Maxit Helps” association, who actively provided financial support to realize this project.

The initiative for non-violent teaching is not only important locally, but also applies in a larger context. As described on the Global Education website, Civil Peace Service (CPS) materials aim to teach students about peaceful conflict resolution approaches, particularly in countries such as Lebanon, Colombia and Guinea, where conflict heavily influences daily life. This not only helps students reflect on their own conflict resolution strategies, but also highlights the importance of peace and cooperation in the global community. In Guinea, for example, formerly violent young people are supported to learn non-violent laws and forms of communication that they can use in their social environment.

Interactive educational offerings

The materials provided as part of the violence prevention program are didactically valuable and invite active discussion. They offer, among other things, copy templates, background information, online dossiers and even music videos to make learning easier and more exciting. In this way, the topic of peace is not only treated theoretically, but also integrated into everyday life situations, which is of great benefit to the students.

In addition to these offerings, the importance of peace education is increasingly emphasized. Researchers and experts, as cited in the peace education documents, advocate for peace logic to be incorporated into school education. This means not only avoiding conflicts, but also actively finding solutions and developing non-violent communication strategies. These approaches could also be given greater consideration in school education in our region in order to further promote the principles of peaceful coexistence.

The school in Kulmbach is a good example of how peaceful structures can be created within the school community through active cooperation and support from various organizations. It is to be hoped that such initiatives will be continued in the future and that the understanding of violence prevention and peaceful conflict resolution will be sustainably anchored among the rising generations. The path is clear: countering violence preventively is not just a slogan, but a responsibility that we share.