What are your wishes for Peace Day?

ARE YOU home watching the latest episode of Jerry Springer, wondering what happened to the good old values of 80s television?

Are you standing in a JUTC bus from Meadowbrook to Downtown, hot and uncomfortable, annoyed that you did indeed leave home in a good mood, and now hoping that no one else will step on your toe as they pass?

Are you on Constant Spring and Half-Way Tree Roads wishing for the North Coast, wishing that your list of 'I'm too sick to work' excuses had not run out last week?

Or are you in the first session of school, hating Ms King, the economics teacher for ruining your chances at the A'levels and thinking of getting back at Paulette because she'd told everyone that you'd skipped school on Friday to go roam the mall.

There's a slim chance that you're actually wearing blue, that you're honking your horn, that your lights are on and that you're wishing peace and goodwill to all Jamaicans.

If you are not, there's a whole day left to get into the mood.

Best of all there's Perky Parrot to help.

What are your plans for Peace Day?

It's your choice.

Peace day as designated by PALS (Peace and Love in Schools) Jamaica, is a national appeal for everyone to reflect on their actions in settling their disputes and to renew their commitment to use non-violent solutions as the most viable option.

So if you're angry stop. If you're sad stop. If you're thinking bad thoughts stop.

Try to be like 13-year-old Lori Stewart, a student at St. Jago High School, St Catherine, who has plans this year, not only to forgive everyone that she's been mad at for the last few months, but to think of new ways to resolve the situation when conflict occurs.

"This Peace Day will be different," Lori admitted, "where in primary school, I only participated because the teachers made such a big deal of it, nowadays I do it for my own benefit. I find that what I learned from celebrating every year at primary school, I can't forget. Nowadays I won't pick a fight with someone for nothing."

Seven-year-old Shantell Barnes' dream is to have her mother and father stop playing favourites with each other's stepchildren.

"I like the attention sometimes," Shantell admitted, "but other times I see that Melissa (her stepsister) looks sad when I get things from daddy that she doesn't get. I'm going to share with her next time this happens."

Today, the PALS office will have two peace day concerts at the New Day Primary and Junior High in Kingston and Flankers Primary and Junior High in Montego Bay. Other schools like Port Morant Primary and Junior High in St Thomas will be ha ving a peace march from Port Morant square to the school.

"We're hoping to sensitise people in the community to the peace process," Shirley Hall, PALS co-ordinator at the school said, "after the march, they'll gather in the schoolyard for a function." This, according to the PALS suggested programme, will include a guest speaker, items from students and teachers, with invited guests from the surrounding community, a message from the Governor-General and a slogan. PALS has also suggested the peace prayer of the Catholic St Francis of Assissi and the peace day theme song, 'Jamaica Land of Beauty' and the National Pledge. The Norman Gardens, Windward Road and Excelsior Primary Schools in Kingston, are teaming up for a peace rally while Barney Side All-Age in Westmoreland will have a programme that includes lots of skits, poems and songs from students. Hazard Primary School in Clarendon is supposed to host the peace day for Clarendon, and principal Lilian Blackstock explained that schools and community members will be invited to share in the activities. She said that they're hoping to have a march and a float, and apart from the regular programme, will have a competition where students will be invited to write poetry, create songs and art that portray peace.

Did you know that the first Peace Day in schools was held in 1996 and the event is celebrated on the first Tuesday of March each year? Last year the PALS programme reported less aggression among students in school based on a report by the University of the West Indies (UWI), which showed that of 67 per cent of teachers interviewed in Kingston and St. Andrew schools said there were fewer fights and a reduction in name calling. The report also said children were breaking up fights rather than encouraging them. There was also an apparent improvement in the attitude of teachers. The findings also indicated that students had generally accepted the PALS programme and they were prepared to listen and to resolve conflicts using the peace concepts.

Peace Day is working. It's not just about wearing the blue anymore.

This year, there has been continued calls for peace in war-torn communities, peace in schools where the system of discipline has broken down and peace in the home so that children can be nurtured to talk things out.

This year, the focus is on thanking God, praying for peace and celebrating jamaica. Make that a part of the plans for Peace Day this year.

FILE Photo, Students enjoying Peace Day celebrations last year.