In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, we are reading books about King’s life and legacy. The holiday provides an opportunity to discuss concepts such as respect and kindness and to discuss how we like to be treated and how we should treat each other. Learners gave examples of ways they like and don’t like to be treated. One learner shared, “I like it when my friends ask me to play with them.” “Someone gave me a fluffy toy when I fell outside a hotel,” said another.

We also found ways that we are both all different and all the same. Some of the differences learners noted included: “we have different t-shirts”; “some people have long hair and some have short hair”; and “our eyes are different colors.” When learners thought about ways that everyone is the same, some answers included: “we all have fingernails”; “we all have hair because we’re mammals”; and “we all have faces.” And the most important thing, learners agreed, is that we all have love in our hearts. 

Learning to be peaceful and respectful in a community is an ongoing practice. When conflict arises in the outdoor area or in the studio, we encourage children to give each other a clear message using words such as “I want to play by myself right now. Can you play somewhere else?” instead of pushing or running away. Learners also have an opportunity to listen to a friend’s message. If a learner hurts a friend, they learn to ask if their friend is okay, apologize, and give an elbow bump to reconnect afterwards. For some conflicts, children ask each other, “Why did you do that?” to open a conversation that builds understanding and resolves miscommunication.

Maria Montessori believed education was the path to lasting peace. Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times. In the studio we honor the legacy of great peacebuilders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Maria Montessori by guiding the learners to take small, daily steps to building their own peaceful community.