We the Peacemakers: How Montessori Makes Peace

A  Sunday drive took me across the state of Tennessee, from Knoxville all the way to Henderson, TN. I spent Monday and Tuesday mornings at Parkview Montessori Magnet School, in Jackson, Tennessee. Parkview is a public school serving students in Preschool through Grade 8 from Jackson-Madison County School System. Students enter the school by applying through a lottery system.

The motto at Parkview is “Peaceful Children, Peaceful School, Peaceful World.” This influence of the school motto is demonstrated throughout environment and in the interactions between students and teachers. The external environment features a peace garden where students plant and build. A peace pole greets students and guests who pass through the main entrance doors. Inside, the hallways are filled with student artwork, as well as educational exhibits about the Montessori philosophy. I visited classrooms that had a familiar hum of students actively engaged with materials.

On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to speak with middle school students from Peggy Smith’s classroom about Parkview’s approach to peace. These 7th and 8th graders held small group Socratic dialogues to discuss their understanding of peace and the impact of Montessori schooling on their lives. The students also shared about a unique project to study about Nobel Peace Prize winners.  What an articulate and caring group of young people! I was excited to be able to interview Ms. Smith and School Principal Melinda Harris, as well.