DRAFT COURSE DESCRIPTION Course Title: Educational Leadership for Peace and Sustainability
Instructors: Steve Gelb and Joi Spencer Dates: August 2 – August 9, 2008 (travel) Course description:
This course, taught at the University of Peace (UPEACE) in Costa Rica, provides an examination of cutting-edge concepts in peace education and sustainability. UPEACE is situated on 300 hectares of protected land (with 260 hectares of rare primary forest) just 30 minutes drive from San José International Airport. The inspiring environment is conducive for participants to freely exchange perspectives and internal reflections. It is a unique teaching and learning laboratory – the first and only university in the world devoted entirely to teaching, learning and research about how human beings can live in harmony with each other and with their environment, on the individual, community, state and global levels, and on a sustainable basis. UPEACE was created by the General Assembly of the United Nations to provide an educational framework for the largest challenge faced by humanity: to ensure a secure, peaceful and sustainable future. The course is planned to provide students with the knowledge, perspectives, and skills for teaching and leading with a new spirit of understanding, cooperation, and sensitivity to global interconnectedness. Classroom learning will be complemented with interactive visits to educational sites that embody the principles of peace and sustainability. Course objectives: In this course students will: 1)
Examine current assumptions and practices that engender conflict and potential ecological catastrophe. 2) Study the interrelationship between ecological integrity, social and economic justice, and democracy, non-violence and peace. 3) Learn comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict and use collaborative problem solving to manage and resolve conflicts. 4) Learn to design educational opportunities that empower children and youth to contribute actively to sustainable development. 5) Examine the importance of moral and spiritual development in schools and organizations in order to engender peace and sustainability 6) Investigate various innovative models of peace education from around the world. Possible Readings: Brooks, E, and Fox, l. (1994). Making peace. St. Martin’s Press.
Earth Charter Council (2006). The Earth Charter: A declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. Author. Harris, I. A. , and Morrison, M. L. (Eds.) (2002). Peace education (2nd ed). Macfarland & Company. Readon, B. (1988). Comprehensive peace education. Teachers College Press. Solomon, G. (2002). Peace education: The concepts, principles and practices around the world. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2002.
Assignments and evaluation: Pre-departure paper on issues in peace education
25%
University of Peace journal and reflection paper
35%
Final paper
40%