Peace Studies Curriculum Project Proposal

GEMS 102 Project Sheet

Name(s): Aparna Kothary, Josh Kahn

Section leader: Katie Walsh, Kendra Klein

E-mail address: akothary@umd.edu, jkahn1@mail.umd.edu

Research project title:

Peace Studies (working title)

Current direction of research in this area (including 2 references):

I’d Rather Teach Peace by: Colman McCarthy

All of one Peace by: Colman McCarthy

Disturbers of Peace: Profiles of Nonadjustment by: Colman McCarthy

Peace and Nonviolence by: Edward Guinan

Research project description:

Create and implement a curriculum that would make students aware of peace-related issues and ideas such as:

Profiles of peacemakers, diplomats, ambassadors, mediators ( Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Mother Theresa, etc.)

Conflict resolution

Alternatives to violence

History in a different perspective

Potential research question(s):

Where to implement?

How to implement?

Target age group?

Sensitivity of material?

Why not implemented before?

Importance of subject?

Additional considerations:

Is this project feasible (consider time and cost factors)? Your initial impressions based on your two sources are fine for the first vote. But in order for this topic to be eligible for the second vote, you must have discussed (vetted) feasibility with an expert on campus and written a summary of the expert’s impressions to add to your project sheet. You will need to send the updated project sheet to your section leader so it can be changed on AJC Online before the second vote.

We believe the project is very feasible and has much potential. However, we understand that we will face a lot of red tape when dealing with school systems and we are prepared to deal with this.

We have a mentor lined up who teaches a non-violence seminar here. He has put in place a peace studies class already in Blair High School in Montgomery County and has been dealing with school authorities for years.

Describe how the interplay between science, technology and society relates to the project:

- Science and technology does not play and integral part in our project. This project will be primarily focused on the social aspect of a peace studies program and how it could positively affect our society. As a race, humans have become increasingly violent even though we claim to be more “civilized” today than ever before. This project would work at promoting non-violence and peace rather than violence and hate to a younger age group. We will attempt to curtail violence through education.

Are you aware of any potential mentors within the campus or community? If so, please list their name(s) and position(s):

Colman McCarthy

Founder of Center For Teaching Peace in Washington D.C.

Columnist for The Washington Post

Georgetown Law Professor

Author of at least 5 books on non-violence