Peace Literacy Skills at Quantico Marine Corps Base Middle/High School

When Paul K. Chappell, West Point graduate and now Peace Leadership Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, wrote his first book, Will War Ever End?, he began the first page with a quote from General Douglas MacArthur: “The Soldier above all other people prays for peace for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds of war.”

This desire for those in the military to seek peace may also extend to the Marines. At the Quantico Marine Corps Base Middle/High School in Quantico, Virginia, the Parent Educator Association (PEA) invited Chappell to address their Model UN class and an assembly of 8^th grade and high school students, teachers, and administrators.

Helene Brown, PEA chair and married to a Marine with two sons in the school, said, “Paul really impressed them with how different our world is today in terms of freedom and equality, providing us hope for our future. Many were also impressed by how different things can be even in different parts of the world…”

Chappell’s topics for middle and high school students also include new insights into violence, anger, and aggression, and the importance of the three elements of universal respect. To students he explains, “Most conflict comes from people feeling disrespected.”

He also discusses issues with his multi-racial identity, bullying problems, and fitting into what he perceived as an unwelcoming world.  His goal is to give middle and high school students a new set of skills to use when dealing with anger and humiliation.

“As a child in school, I spent many years learning to read and write, but I did not learn peace literacy skills.” Chappell tells his student audience that he had been expelled from grammar school and suspended in high school for fighting. “The ideals and skills I use to wage peace I learned in the military.”

Helene Brown also said, “His focus on respect and empathy gave us all plenty to consider in our own strivings for peace in our world.  We are very thankful for his presence at our school!”

To learn more about the NAPF Peace Literacy program, visit peaceliteracy.org.