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Mutual Education

Giraffe Language in Kindergartens and Schools

Project Report by Savic, Nada Ignjatovic in English (1996)
Belgrade, Serbia: a Report for the Institute of Psychology, Belgrade University

The project has two complemntary goals:

  • to enalbe adults working with children to apply non-violent compassionate communication and constructive conflict resolution program and to develop the mutual education model, of which suppositions are:
    • active role of children in educational process
    • autonomous, inner motivation vs. coercion 
    • self-discipline vs. discipline founded on obedience and fear of punishment 
    • respected authority vs. fearing authority
    • mutual understanding, respect and co-operation among adults and children in educational process
  • children and young people to adopt basic skills of  non-violent communication, to learn to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings constructively and to become active participants in process of education, so whatever they do, they do it out from inner motivation and not because of force or obedience based on fear or punishment.
    • children and young people to adopt values of culture of non-violence: to understand and experience that autonomy does not mean to be free form from others but to be free with others, that self-respect, self-approval, responsibility for one's own acts imply mutuality, respecting differences, equality, co-operation, support, compassion.