Teaching peace at Rangataua

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 20, 13 October 1987, Page 3

Teaching peace at Rangataua

Promoting world peace through education is the aim of two New Zealanders who devote their time to visiting primary and secondary schools around the North Island. Alyn Ware, a former teacher, and Jennie Smith travel the country in the Mobile Peace Van, a travelling educational unit

which is equipped with video and tapes, slides, literature and displays for peace studies. Alyn has been making the circuit of schools for the last three years and while keen to promote the concept of world peace in the South Island, says he has his work cut out for him in the North.

"It is very difficult to visit every school, there are so many," he said. The peace van was in the Waimarino last week on a circuit of schools in the Wanganui area, amongst which was Rangataua School. Through song, games, skits and discussion the children learned how they can play a peaceful and harmonious role within their family and how to get along better with their peers, simply by co-opera-tion. Alyn Ware said the van is following a similar route to that taken by the peace walkers in August of this year. His aim, and that of other promoters of world peace, he said, is to develop peace within individuals initially and to increase awareness of the world situation.