August 21,2012
Social Media alerted the world to focus on World Peace for this day. I embraced this idea and have basically forced 165 teenagers in the USA to complete a drawing using texture, symbols, color and text to express their desire for world peace. We had to first discuss many things at first.
1) The lack of awareness of the basic plight of the world’s children in various war zones, most of my students cannot even imaging that kids cannot get their potatoes chips when they want let alone there are none to get.
2) We had to address Quantum thought and how our thoughts are just as real as our chair we are sitting on.
3) We talked about None-violent Communication and how the most important thing to be aware of is that people just want to feel like they have been heard. That simple action will defuse most conflicts; people just want to be heard.
4) We had to talk about the various conflicts happening all over the world and WHY. (WHY is the controversial branch I had to step out on.)
We created intentional art to bring awareness and we attacked the school with our finished art work. I will not be giving any grades not artwork that is not posted in the school.
I believe we have the power to change the world with our intentions and thoughts. I put that belief in practice. I saw the results of 3 very determined students having no other thought other than joining the US army when they get out of school now changing their thoughts about that plan. They are viewing Youtube videos created by US soldiers and seeing their view point on how we should not be a war right now.
I do not know how long this change of thought will last. I have 9 weeks of "Quantum Thought" assignments so hopefully I can continue to make some changes to basic thoughts with my 14-18 year olds in one class.
How did you encourage world peace today? Did/could you have done something at work to bring awareness, even if you are stepping over some small boundaries while doing so? Peace starts with your own heart, I had to keep this in mind while redirecting distracted students. I learned that teachers do have a power of the minion, we just have to focus that power in the correct dirrection. One student wished that every city/village would have an ultimate skate park and the world was at peace and abundance so the kids fo the world cold just visit and play and learn from each other. I thought that was a great idea. Encourage great ideas ever where you go!!!!!
Namaste StarDancerKat
Art Teacher Fairview High School, Fairview TN
