Teacher Training in Relation to Peace Education in Schools: Views Expressed by Members of the PEC Network. Peace Education Miniprints, No. 67.

Overview & Synopsis

This study did a preliminary examination of Peace Education Commission (PEC) members' views on teacher training in relation to peace education in schools. A questionnaire was mailed to all PEC members and 75 questionnaires were returned from 33 different countries. Findings included the following: (1) teacher training is of great importance; (2) training related to peace education should be included in both basic teacher training and in-service training; (3) little is currently done in teacher training related to peace education; (4) a broad-range policy for teacher training covering several approaches to peace education received strong support from the respondents; (5) with regard to how peace education should be related to the total system of teacher education, a clear majority (60 percent) favored a combination of special courses on peace education within basic teacher training as well as promoting peace education objectives and procedures in a number of different courses in basic teacher education; (6) 41 respondents could not recommend a peace education handbook; and (7) many saw significant risks and difficulties in developing peace education. Finally, a variety of ideas were presented on how to promote the idea of teacher training for peace education. (Contains 22 references.) (JB)