Education for life: promoting peace in the school environment

Abstract

The school is a place of formal education, which enables the motor, cognitive, social and emotional development of students, from early childhood education to youth and adult education, and as such, it must be a welcoming environment that allows good relationships, cordiality, kindness, respect and empathy for the social and cultural diversity present in it. The school must, among other things, positively influence the formation of critical citizens, aware and responsible for their actions. However, unfortunately, in recent months here in Brazil, the media reported several attacks on schools, which saddened the Brazilian population. In view of the above, we need to encourage a culture of peace in schools, in order to ensure that students, teachers and all employees in the school community have a welcoming and safe environment. For this reason, the present work aimed to promote reflection on maintaining peace and well-being in the school environment. The study was developed at a State School in Manaus, with second-year high school students. To develop the activities, dialogued expository classes and conversation circles were held, where students were encouraged to think, reflect and discuss the events of insecurity that plagued Brazilian schools, as well as the type of school environment that each one desires. Furthermore, the students were organized into teams and instructed to create posters on the topic in question, so that they could express their ideas and desires for peace and security in the school environment. The posters produced were used to produce a mural, which was displayed to the school community, with the aim of sensitizing other students, as well as all people who are part of the school community, to reflect on their actions in promoting peace in the school environment.