1st Edition

Critical Peace Education and Global Citizenship Narratives From the Unofficial Curriculum

By Rita Verma Copyright 2017
    182 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    182 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Critical Peace Education and Global Citizenship offers narrative accounts representing multiple ways teacher and learner activists have come to realize possibilities for peace and reconciliation through unofficial curricula. With these narratives, the book demonstrates the connections between critical peace education and such crucial issues as human trafficking, gang violence, contested narratives of nationhood and belonging, gender identities, and the significance of mentoring. Through rich examples of pedagogic work, this volume enhances and illustrates critically oriented understandings and interpretations of peace in real classrooms with diverse populations of students. Written primarily for scholars and graduate students working in the fields of educational theory, critical pedagogy, and educational policy, the chapters in this book tell a compelling story about teachers, learners and scholar activists who continue to struggle for the creation of transformative and meaningful sites for peace praxis.

    Table of Contents

    Acknowledgements

    Series Editor Introduction

    Introduction: Ventures into the Margins: Peace as a Possibility

    Chapter 1: Seeking Peace Activists and Global Citizens

    Chapter 2: The Common Core Reading Program and the Unofficial Lessons on Peace: Readings on Roberto Clemente, MLK and Cesar Chavez

    Chapter 3: My Story Our Story: Interpretations of Global Violence and Peace in the Middle School Classroom

    Chapter 4: Dignity for All Students Act and Critical Peace Activism

    Chapter 5: Critical Peace Pedagogues - Shaping Teachers in Training

    Chapter 6: Increase the Peace: A Journey of a Teacher Activist

    Chapter 7: The Story of Soledad: From the Gang Life to Peace Activist

    Chapter 8: Intermittent Interruptions: Patchwork Peace Narratives From a Human Rights Seminar

    Conclusion: Now is the Time to Begin

    References

    Index

    Biography

    Rita Verma is an Associate Professor in Social Studies Education and Peace Studies at Adelphi University in New York. She collaborates with the UN and various human rights organizations to engage educators in dialogue about human rights and global citizenship.

    Written in beautiful and engaging prose, Global Peace Education and Global Citizenship shows us how critical pedagogy and peace education come together in meaningful classroom practices that can help teachers and students become peace activists. With the rise of hate crimes and repressive nationalism globally, this book is perfectly timed to help all of us make sense of how to make our way as educators in an unsure world.

    --Wayne Au, Associate Professor, School of Educational Studies, University of Washington Bothell, USA

    Bringing to the fore the stories of activists-at-work, and with a narrative that is engaging while poignant and at times disturbing, Rita Verma convincingly tell us that "critical peace education is a struggle over contested identities, symbolic violence and its meaning as well as shared ownership of the pedagogical space." This book impacted my imagination and my commitments. I am sure it will do the same to any reader who cares about peace.

    -- Carlos Alberto Torres, Distinguished Professor of Education, UNESCO Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education, UCLA, USA

    Critical Peace Education and Global Citizenship is simultaneously inspiring and terrifying. Inspiring in the accounts of highly interactive peace education outside the normal curriculum, and in possibilities for activism, and terrifying in the exposures of both symbolic and real global violence. This book graphically shows us how the key task for our time is not learning about peace but learning not to hate. Verma’s contribution to this learning is both important and convincing.

    -- Lynn Davies, Emeritus Professor of International Education, University of Birmingham, UK