It was during our topic class that one of my pupils drew my attention to the fact that the International Non-Violence Day was observed on the 2^nd of October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

Throughout this school year we shall be discussing men and women who have marked their generation and their era through their philosophies or their discoveries. We, therefore, chose to discuss this great man in history because he marked his era, the course of his motherland, India, and the world as a whole.

If we, teachers and parents, can inculcate in our children at this tender age, the love of peace and rejection of anything that has to do with hurting others, our world will be a better place. They need to learn that the use of violence is never a justification for their actions.

So with this at the back of their minds, the children of Years 4 and 5 wrote down poems of their own making. Enjoy these words of wisdom sprung from the ‘mouths of babes.’

Mrs Afolabi, Class Teacher of Years 4 and 5