Extra: The "Peaceable Kingdom"/The Early Childhood Environment

The Peaceable Kingdom -Edward Hicks

I once explained the notion of creating the early childhood environment as a "safe haven" for all who enter, to a colleague of mine.  I described the early learning environment that I endeavor to create as a Peaceable Kingdom (“Worcester Art Museum, 1833), from the well-known painting, which I saw as a child.   I am not a religious person at all, but I can connect with the verse in Isaiah (11:6) that states, "In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all" (Isaiah, Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2004).  My colleague questioned the fruitfulness of my endeavors, and asked if I really thought that the peaceful environment we created in the classroom could possibly transcend into the child’s life away from school.  I told her that my goal was to give every child in the class a chance to experience a peaceful environment… to see what it looks like, to hear what it sounds like, to feel what it feels like to be safe- functioning fully in the same space as people who are not just like them, and to experience the countless benefits of that peaceful environment and know what it takes to make that happen.  My hope is that these children will understand, as well as develop and have the skills to create peaceful, productive environments of their own as they mature into adulthood.

Resources:

Isaiah, Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (2004, 2011). Isaiah 11:6. Biblos. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://bible.cc/isaiah/11-6.htm

Worcester Art Museum - Edward Hicks: The Peaceable Kingdom. (n.d.).Worcester Art Museum. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://www.worcesterart.org/Collection/American/1934.65.html