They teach teachers to teach peace

On March 11-12, the co-directors of the Oneness in Peace Spiritual Center in Germantown will hold a training weekend for teachers on nonviolence.

The basis of the training is a curriculum the pair wrote, the Holistic Orientation for Peace Education (H.O.P.E.) program, which teaches children about peacemaking.

P is for prayer

* Prayer, particularly centering prayer, taught to the children to help them connect with God and themselves;

* "Energetics," a term the directors use to refer to balancing the body's physical energy through self-care, nutrition and exercise;

* Arts, creativity and imagination -- using art as self-expression;

* Community, or learning to respect others locally and globally; and

* Ecology and the environment, or caring for the earth and all creation.

Together, the five parts spell the word "peace."

Full program

The next step, energetics, includes lessons on how good nutrition is important. "Foods can improve attention span and self-discipline, as well as problem-solving ability for peacemaking," the teacher's guide explains.

Exercise is another key part of energetics. Children in the program are taught to "shake out," stretch and massage their arms, legs and faces with yoga-like movements. Referring to Chinese and Japanese beliefs that the body has seven "energy centers," Ms. Langie and Sister Vergilia believe that this promotes better energy flow throughout the body.

Creativity

A class can also talk about what sights, sounds or colors signify peace to them, and try dancing or role-playing as an expression of peace.

"Community" teaches the children to look beyond gender, race, size or other differences. They are told to stand in a circle and pray together, and to think about their own names. They also learn about nonviolent language and about the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Finally, in the "ecology/environment" portion of the program, the directors teach about Creation and how human beings must care for the earth. "The H.O.P.E. program aims to re-awaken in children the inner realization of our oneness with the earth," the pair explain.

Successful

The pair hope that their upcoming workshop for teachers will lead more people to learn about what they call a "unique and outstanding" program.

"To date, we have not come across another peace program with such a holistic and religious approach to peace," they said.

(The March 11-12 teacher training is open to educators and parents of kindergarten through eighth-grade students, and costs $120 per person. For information, call 537-5678.)

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