In 2002, a plaque of Maria Montessori was placed on the Wall of Names at the Ghandi Pacifist Memorial at The Peace Abbey in Massachusetts. She joined 60 other peacemakers who were honoured in this way. The special plaque bears Montessori's words:

It is the spirit of the child which can determine the course of human progress, and perhaps lead to a higher form of civilization.

Ruth Selman, American Montessori Society NGO representative said:
The higher form of civilization that Maria Montessori spoke of is a world at peace, the dream of humanity. But Dr. Montessori did not stop at dreaming, she created the peaceable kingdom in every classroom. We all need to believe in this higher form of civilization. You, the children, are living it in your classrooms.

We encourage this higher form of civilization in our classrooms. We have a Montessori Model UN club that meets once each week to learn about other countries and cultures as well as the functioning of the United Nations. In the classroom, we learn about the importance of global peace, we study peacemakers and other real heroes. We expose the children to literature that empowers the spirit of caring and acceptance.