Our logo is a picture of the world showing the Hawaiian Islands. A child’s hand made into a peace dove is reaching for the islands, illustrating that the children will be the ones to bring peace to the world. As
Our logo is a picture of the world showing the Hawaiian Islands. A child’s hand made into a peace dove is reaching for the islands, illustrating that the children will be the ones to bring peace to the world.
As Gandhi said, “If we are to have world peace, it must begin with the children.”
During the school year, many elementary school students learn “peace lessons” taught by the Aloha Peace Project team, and a school staff person.
The children have fun as they learn about good ways to solve problems, how to be a good friend, choosing kind words and actions, and what to do when bullying occurs either to themselves or others.
Laura Taylor, the founder of APP, has created a list of behaviors that students can practice over the summer with the help of family and friends.
Courtesy and caring are contagious. It will make your summer sweeter.
You may even come up with some of your own, as a result of how someone has treated you that either makes you feel good or bad. If it makes you feel good, you might try to do it for another person. If it makes you feel bad, you’ll remember not to do it to another person.
Taylor has divided the behaviors into levels for the lower, middle and upper elementary grades, with the assumption that the higher levels have assimilated the lower levels.
They’re all good things to do for kids of all ages. Here they are:
Lower level:
Courteous behaviors
• Saying, “Thank you,” “Please,” and “Excuse Me”
• Picking up an item dropped by another person
• Standing quietly in line
• Waiting one’s turn while talking
• Apologizing for a mistake
• Giving a person a compliment
• Doing a favor for someone
• Allowing another child to play when he or she asks
Middle Level: Courageous
and caring behaviors
• Sticking up for a friend
• Refusing to join in when someone is being treated badly (e.g., being teased)
• Not spreading a rumor that is told to you.
Higher Level: Very courageous and caring behaviors
• Getting adult assistance during a bully situation
• Making an effort to assist a rejected or lonely child
• Stopping the spread of a rumor
• Sticking up for a person whom you don’t know very well
• Saying, “We don’t treat people like that here”
There are also 50 videos in the APP Library that can be taken out. Appropriate for grades K-9, they cover various subjects such as self-esteem, cliques, bullying, making decisions, saying “no” and keeping your friends, drugs, building character and more.
Visit www.alohapeaceproject.com for the entire list.
Have a terrific and safe summer. Remember all the wonderful ways you’ve practiced kindness so you can tell others about it next year. Aloha!
∫ The ‘In Your Corner’ team comprises the leadership of the island’s government, court, police, education, family and social services communities. Contact Annaleah Atkinson with your questions or comments at aatkinson@haleopio.org.
