Abstract
There are reservations expressed by teachers in introducing courses on peace studies. Generally teachers can find no obvious place for such a study and nervous of public opinion, fear repercussions in unpredictable and anonymous ways. Historically, the study of ‘peace’ and ‘conflict resolution’ has been undertaken by military academies and defence colleges. Not surprisingly, these institutions have left the general public with a deep distrust and a suspicion that peace initiatives somehow play into the hands of real and imagined enemies. This is one of the major reasons that peace studies is such a controversial subject. Nevertheless, the consideration of peace does form part of many established courses and children are concerned about the prospects of peace and justice as this paper shows. International Year of Peace in 1986 provided the motivation for some teachers to encourage their pupils to think about peace and justice. It is particularly important for gifted pupils, as possible future leaders, to consider the implications of attitude to peace and justice.
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