Do Peace Education Programs Have an Influence on High School Students?: Case Study of Hiroshima Jogakuin Jr. & Sr. High School in Japan

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of peace education lessons on female high school students. Although peace education enriches the school curriculum and is becoming a more widely recognized field, not all educational institutions are involving students and educators in working toward a more just and peaceful world. This study is based on data obtained from a questionnaire administered to 244 female students in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades o f senior high school at Hiroshima Jogakuin Jr. & Sr. High School, Japan, and institution that has been developing and merging peace education in its curriculum for more than 40 years. Findings reveal that students in the high school tend to have very positive opinions about the peace education lessons and approaches. The study also shows that students who have experienced peace education are more self-reliant, sensible, and independent in their understanding of social issues.