Today, 21 September, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world. This day was established by the United Nations in 1981. Education for Peace is a recurring theme in Montessori’s pedagogy: Maria Montessori often spoke passionately on this subject in public lectures, congresses, and teacher training courses. Growing up in a Europe that had a long history of conflicts, wars, and fragile peace treaties, Montessori’s later years were marked by the atrocities of two World Wars. She realised that, while governments can negotiate treaties and decide on non-aggression pacts, the true seeds of peace are sown in education – from the day we are born.

In the late 1940s, she penned down some thoughts on how society might become more peaceful and outlined that:

We need to encourage the science of education that helps people build up a robust intelligence - with a strong character: who think for themselves and give a conscious guidance to their lives - and are capable of understanding and defending human freedom.

The words from Montessori are an inspiration for what society still has to accomplish – committing and contributing to building a Culture of Peace.