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**//"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children."//**  **//-Mohandas K. Gandhi//**

 Welcome to An Introduction to Nonviolence  //Note: This course is largely ad////apted from the Ahimsa Center's Summer institute on nonviolence:// // Ahimsa Center website //  Instructor: Laura Hirshfield   Email: LHirshfield@abschools.org

**Course Description** This course will provide an opportunity to integrate into school curricula lessons based on nonviolence, with a critical understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and Cesar Chavez, especially their respective journeys of nonviolence in seeking fulfillment, freedom and social justice.

Participants will learn, reflect upon, and critically assess the relevance of nonviolence and the significance of Gandhi and Chavez as leaders of nonviolent movements. The course will provide a solid foundation for curricular innovations to facilitate a critical appreciation of nonviolence, Gandhi, and Chavez in the K-12 curriculum. Themes and topics include:
 * Defining violence, non-violence, nonviolence, and pacifism;
 * Methods and applications of nonviolence in action, speech, and thought;
 * Gandhi and Chavez as leaders and life-long learners;
 * Their larger socio-political contexts;
 * Their response to various social and political challenges;
 * Their methods for conflict resolution and social change;
 * Their views on poverty and sustainable development;
 * Their legacies and impact;
 * Current social issues and how nonviolence can be relevant;
 * Gandhi and Chavez as a role models for today’s youth.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">**Format** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">The course will include a combination of lectures, group discussions, reflections on course readings, documentary/film discuss <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">ions, and curriculum development workshops. The focus will be on reading, reflecting, and conversing. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">**// This course is largely based on a two-week institute offered by the //****// Ahimsa //****// Center //****// in //****// Pomona //****//, //****// CA //****// at Cal Poly //****// Pomona //****//. As such, the above course description is taken from that site, with superficial changes made ( //** [])

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 22px;">**Learning Objectives** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Participants in this course will ---
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Defining violence, non-violence, nonviolence, and pacifism;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Acquire an in-depth understanding of Gandhi and Chavez, their historic journeys of nonviolent social change in the face of exploitation, racial discrimination, oppression, injustice, violence and war;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Examine the practical applications of their core concepts and strategies to current socio-economic and environmental challenges, and to the resolution of conflicts—personal, interpersonal, social, national and international;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Explore the relevance of their lives as exemplars for positively enhancing the learning environment for students and for inspiring them with the power of nonviolence;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Facilitate the development, implementation and dissemination of standards-based interdisciplinary curriculum for a balanced and deeper understanding of Gandhi, Chavez and their legacies.