Peace in the Middle East - Let's unleash the teenagers!
My students need 15 additional copies of "From Beirut to Jerusalem", since we read it together in our investigation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and 4 additional related texts for IB world history class.
"Peace cannot be achieved through violence; it can only be attained through understanding." Ralph Waldo Emerson first uttered these words that perfectly describe my students' investigation of the Arab-Israeli conflict and how to achieve peaceful compromise. We're short of books as our class grows.
Our students attend an urban, public, IB Montessori school in Minnesota.
The students are diverse ethnically and economically, but what brings them together at our school is their desire to study and learn in an innovative, student-centered school. Our school is founded on leadership, service, and peace formation and fosters independence, critical thinking, respect, and responsibility to self, to others, and to the earth. Our students delve deeply into what they are curious about and apply their academic investigations to trying to solve real-world problems. Students at our school are passionate, engaged, and are delighted to better understand who they are and what their roles might be in the world as they learn and tackle complex problems.
My Project
Seniors at our school investigate 20th Century World History without textbooks. As International Baccalaureate students, they set their goals high so they will be prepared to succeed on rigorous IB exams with students from around the world. We spend three months investigating the Arab-Israeli conflict as a case study of competing narratives and fluctuating efforts at peace. Rather than plodding through reading a textbook, these history students delve into an array of primary documents, compelling documentary films, and Thomas Friedman's award-winning book From Beirut to Jerusalem. My goal as their teacher is to support their independent investigations of the conflict by providing an array of engaging resources that capture a rich diversity of perspectives. Our investigation of the conflict culminates with an intense role play of the Camp David Peace Accords, where students represent an array of interested parties. They practice the arts of persuasion, listening and compromise.
As a small school without a library or textbooks, the rich resources I am able to provide students are essential for their learning.
As my class size grows, I don't have enough books for each student to read From Beirut to Jerusalem. Please contribute so that each student has a book to take home to read and ponder. You will be supporting the next generation of peacemakers as they develop their knowledge and critical thinking and problem solving skills. Thank you!
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