Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1120839 Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2012 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

People are at war with themselves. Bullying has become the norm and fights continue on the playground; students show hostility towards their teachers and the world is at war, as people go on rampages, killing learners at schools. This study will discuss why classrooms should be considered spaces in which children can learn, understand and comprehend what peace and love is as opposed to war. Humans are taught from a young age to compete with their siblings and fight for survival, which creates a sense of clear winners and losers. The level of learner consciousness of respect for life and being at peace with themselves and those around them should be enhanced through teachings about life principles and through mindful training.Children spend most of their lives at school and in the classroom. If the school environment can make children more aware and conscious of what it means to be giving and accepting through teaching about mindful learning which encourages justice, peace, kindness, courage and goodness, then perhaps the world will be a better place, as opposed to accepting it when children bully, fight, tease, compete and undermine each other's potential. Children already display dictatorial behaviour from a young age because of the examples adults have set, as children tend to imitate figures of authority. Teachers should take the lead in ensuring social justice and peace.We teach children to take from the world as opposed to give to it, through subjects such as mathematics and accounting; accumulate, expand, make money at any expense. The playground and school environment promote the idea that scholars consider themselves only, damaging the environment, fighting for survival and the needs of human beings only. Littering, ganging up on the helpless, oppressing those less popular, going with the crowd and being tough, heartless bullies have become acceptable within the schooling system. If this is what we are teaching our children to become, will they be the leaders that we want them to be? The paper will touch on mindful learning as a means of creating a conducive peaceful schooling environment for learners.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Arts and Humanities Arts and Humanities (General)