Churches Newsletter, 3 April 2022
How to teach peace to children…? At Austwick School, as doubtless all others, staff and parents are aware of the impact which the war in Ukraine is having on children. The staff are helping the children to understand events at an appropriate level that is accessible to them, and, recognising that parents, family and care-givers share the overwhelming task of responding to children's fears and worries, the school has also linked parents to training on Talking about War and Conflict with Children.
Knowing that the Austwick schoolchildren are keen to do what they can to make a positive difference to the lives of others, the school has been fundraising for the relief appeal by collectively walking the distance from Austwick School to the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. This distance is 1,743 miles in total and the children have achieved this by each day, either as part of PE or at break times, walking or running around the field and collating their distance.
‘How to Teach Peace to Children’ is the title of a booklet I bought thirty years ago and which has been reopened on my desk again in recent weeks. Written by J. Lorne Peachey and published by the Mennonite Church, one of the historic ‘Peace Churches’, it’s been a useful companion through years of youth ministry and schools work but it’s written mainly with families in mind. It’s full of helpful tips and suggestions for anyone to apply in the home, church or school.
This time around I’ve embraced the suggestion ‘Tell Stories’, and in weekly Collective Worship at school have been reading from ‘Peace Be With You’ by Cornelia Lehn, a collection of stories, from history and oral tradition, of people whose lives exemplified Christian doctrines of peace, even when confronted with violent circumstances: the Epps family who showed love and care to a terrible neighbour when he fell ill; Enos Stutzman a conscientious objector who went to war as a medic and army bugler; the activist Ann Jarvis whose Mother’s Day for Peace brought reconciliation between soldiers from opposite sides of the American Civil War…
How to teach peace to children? Ane Lemche, a psychologist and child counsellor at Save the Children suggests simply making time to listen, to validate their feelings and reassure them, and give them a practical way to help. Teaching peace to children is a profound vocation we all may share in our families and community; and of course in embracing it we learn so much more about ourselves, our world and the way of the God of Peace as well.
