“Teachers are role models to students and so every teacher should play a role in removing violence and becoming a peace builder.”
(Reposted from: Nagaland Post. February 24, 2023)
Observing the occasion of “World Understanding and Peace Day”, the Peace Centre (NEISSR and Peace Channel) conducted Training of Trainers (ToT) for Salt Christian College of Teachers Education on the topic “Role of Teachers in Peace Building”, on February 23.
A press release issued by Peace Centre, Chumoukedima, stated that the resource person for the training, Fr. Dr. C.P Anto explained on “Peace Education”, which is education of knowledge, values, skills and attitudes. He stated that “Peace Education” is very important for developing the skills of a person for handling information, creativity thinking, self-refection and self-discipline which will help them to resolve conflicts with understanding.
“Teachers are role models to students and so every teacher should play a role in removing violence and becoming a peace builder”, he added. He also informed that there are two perceptions of Peace Building: Long-term and short-term peace building. He stated that policies need to change since India did not sign any national/international agreement of apex organization so promoting peace building cannot take place, he however, urged the NGOs, organizations and educational institutions to come up and make peace education possible.
“Peace Education and Peace Building are important, so every teacher is responsible to help students become a good human being and understand their capabilities for themselves and for the society.”, he stated. Anto also maintained that every educator should be able to make a student to be peaceful in the classroom by making them understand the three types of conflict: Intra Conflict, Inter Conflict and Inter Community Conflict. He urged the teachers to build interpersonal relationship with students and understand them, so that they can trust and make the student teacher bond stronger.
The resource person challenged the teachers by stating that they should be the “Best Teachers” where it is not only performing well but also making the students feel happy about their presence.
He exhorted that there are conflicts in all types of level and it is only the educationist who can build peace and resolve conflict.
He said reminded that teachers are peace builders and they should instil peace in the minds of the younger generation by making them understand that conflict can be brought to peace through dialogue, negotiation, felicitation and articulation.
