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The Four Building Blocks of Education
[2] Global Understanding
 World peace will require an appreciation for the richness and importance of diverse cultural, religious, and social systems and a strengthening of those traditions that contribute to a sustainable world civilization. Global understanding demands awareness of the interdependence of all things and a profound sense of responsibility for the fate of the planet and for the well being of humanity. Developing world mindedness requires a re-orienting of education to include among personal, local, and regional concerns the challenges facing the entire world. The establishment of a peaceful society requires the arts of consultation and collective decision-making.
The development of civilization has occurred in a spiral pattern with seasons of enlightenment and periods of darkness, but with constant advancement. Confidence in the advent of human maturity and global community provides the foundation for world peace.
The Global Education Model of Schooling encourages an appreciation of the cultures, traditions and religions represented by each child at the school, and beyond the school and the nation, by the world at large. GEM also promotes student academic exchange programs, international month-long school camps, and international cultural exchange programs. Adapted from Japan's Society of Prayer for World Peace, children in the GEM program pray regularly for world peace using their simple yet effective prayer ceremony: May Peace Prevail on Earth. They commit themselves to serving the cause of world peace daily in their school pledge.
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