Peace Education

Montessori Center of Jackson

"Establishing peace is the work of education."

The essence of the Montessori approach is the education for peace. This premise is exhibited in a Montessori classroom by the use of multi-cultural curriculum, character education, lessons on grace and courtesy, discouraging play that involves war games and gun play, and the use of conflict resolution to help children learn to solve their problems with words rather than with their hands. Our discipline techniques utilize respectful, nonphysical methods. We believe that consistency, limit-setting, positive redirection, and nonphyscial discipline techniques lead the child to having a healthy self-image and help develop self-discipline. This results in children acting out of respect rather than fear of punishment. We also believe that parents must provide an environment for their child that is nonviolent regarding the media to which the child is exposed. Choosing television shows, movies, videos and computer games that are nonviolent is imperative.

As parents, we do tend to discipline our children as we had been parented. If this included corporal punishment or harsh degrading speech, breaking the cycle can be an effort. We want to support you in this effort. Classes will be offered at the school in the fall for all school families so they may learn and be encouraged to adapt positive ways of disciplining their children. Alternatives to punishment wil be discussed and communication skills will be shared so that parents and teachers can work together to provide effective discipline for the children enrolled at the Montessori Center. We also have a lending library of books, audio tapes, and video tapes on positive discipline, methods for effective family communication, and ways to build within your child a healthy esteem for self and others.