GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
by Carey Perkins & the St. Charles Borromeo 8th Grade Class of 2008, Parma Ohio

My name is Carey Perkins and I teach General Music, kindergarten through eighth grade, at St. Charles School in Parma, Ohio (which is on the southwest side of Cleveland).

For the 2007-2008 school year, we, the faculty, have really been trying to promote anti-bullying. Unfortunately, bullying just seems to be getting worse from year to year, even in a place where we are trying wholeheartedly to promote the teachings of Christ and those in the Bible.

This fall, when I read about your wonderful Peace Tower in Iceland, I was reminded of all the tireless work you and John did in the late sixties and early seventies to promote that simple message of "Give Peace A Chance" and "Imagine Peace."

Although I was too young to really appreciate those events as they were happening, as an adult, and as an educator, the message really hits home. No matter how small or insignificant we as individuals seem to be, if everyone just stopped and imagined living in a peaceful world, we would perhaps be living more harmoniously.

My junior high students (seventh and eighth graders), spend quite a bit of time studying the history of American popular music. Naturally, The Beatles, as well as John's work as a solo artist, are a part of that.

To connect their study of popular music with your Peace Tower (and sneaking-in an anti-bullying message at the same time), I asked the students to do this: find song lyrics, meaningful to you, that have a message of peace, love, understanding or unity.

I was impressed with what the students found. Some took me quite literally and used Beatles/Lennon classics like "Give Peace a Chance," "Imagine" and "Let It Be."

Others used current artists like The Black-Eyed Peas, John Mayer, and Madonna. Still others used hymns like "Let There Be Peace on Earth" or "Amazing Grace." Each student then took his/her lyric and copied it onto a dye-cut hand, star or musical note and then pasted it onto our banner. (I've attached pictures of the banner as well as pictures of the two eighth grade classes to this e-mail).

We looked at many photos of your Peace Tower from the website, and the students were very impressed with the idea that they could be a part of it--even thousands of miles away.

Therefore, with much gratitude, we send to you, Yoko, and to all of the people of the world, our message of peace from our little corner of the world because "All We Are Saying Is Give Peace A Chance."


Thank you!


Carey Perkins, music teacher
and the St. Charles Borromeo
Eighth Grade Class of 2008
in Parma, Ohio



Thank you, Carey, for letting me know what you're doing in your corner, so to speak. You are affecting all of us and the world with your good energy.
Think Peace, Act Peace, Spreac Peace.
Again, thank you. Lots of love, yoko