The healthy coexistence It is a term that refers to the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of individuals or human groups in the same space. Coexistence is part of the needs of the human being, which is a social animal and requires interaction with other individuals to achieve their integral well-being..
For Xesus Jares coexistence means "living with each other based on certain social relationships and on some valuation codes, necessarily subjective, within the framework of a specific social context".
There are several types of coexistence that depend on the context or the group with which the individual interacts. Thus, for example, it is often spoken of social coexistence, family coexistence, school coexistence, citizen coexistence and democratic coexistence, which are differentiated as follows:
- Social: refers to the harmonious relationship that is maintained between people, things and the environment.
- Family: is one that develops between the members of a family, which is the most important social group of an individual.
- School: is the one that occurs between the members of a school, involving teachers, employees and students, and that affects the development of the latter.
- Citizen: it is a responsibility that cannot be delegated and it is also a responsibility derived from civil society that shares a civic space and that interacts with and in front of the State.
- Democratic: is one that lies in respect for individuals regardless of race, creed, language, social condition, educational level, culture or ideology.
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Learning to live together is one of the four pillars that education should support, according to the Report to UNESCO of the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century. The learning of coexistence is not unique to educational centers, as we must also learn it among equals, in the family or through the media.
Coexistence in the school environment is a process in which all members of an educational community learn to live with others, which requires respect, acceptance, understanding, appreciation of diversity and effective communication.
In the school environment, healthy coexistence should not only be understood as the absence of violence, but also requires the establishment of satisfactory interpersonal and group relationships. This link will allow to generate a climate of trust, respect and mutual support in the institution, it will favor the existence of positive relations in it and will also guarantee its democratic functioning..
To achieve this, the training, coordination and teamwork of all sectors of the educational community are considered essential elements. The purpose of the coexistence programs and protocols that have emerged in the educational environment is to detect inappropriate and disruptive behaviors, as well as to identify competitiveness and poorly managed individuality, to replace them with cooperative and inclusive methodologies.
Among the resources that have been developed for school coexistence, it is worth mentioning mediation teams, coexistence classrooms, motivation for learning, among other programs that promote critical sense, moral values and social skills..
For this, the management of cognitive and behavioral resources in which concepts such as empathy, positive communication, cooperative learning, moral judgment are worked must be guaranteed..
UNESCO and its Member States have addressed the matter and suggest promoting school coexistence with systematic strategies at the whole school level. In this sense, they recommend implementing actions at the three levels that the World Health Organization proposes for all psychosocial intervention.
Primary prevention is indicated for all students and adults. High school is the one that requires more specific and group strategies for students who have been detected to be at risk, such as school dropout or failure, repetition or behavior problems.
Tertiary prevention applies to high-risk students. They are individual interventions for more severe behavioral problems or even mental health problems. They include individual actions in and out of school, as well as daily or weekly private counseling.
Learning to live together supposes the conjugation of equality and difference, because within the diversity of the human being we are all equal in dignity and rights, as proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Therefore, the importance of recognizing and accepting the difference, which can be a factor of conflict in any area in which we operate..
The primary objective of healthy coexistence lies in the achievement of positive and democratic coexistence in all contexts. It also means living with the conflict that is typical of diversity and learning to manage it, to find forms of peaceful resolution.
Another of its objectives is the promotion of tolerance and the prevention of intimidating behavior, discrimination and violence..
Finally, healthy coexistence aims to promote a responsible lifestyle in the use of its resources without destroying the environment. That is, it protects and conserves the immediate environment, guaranteeing the survival of future generations..
Healthy coexistence involves a series of aspects that describe it as a social phenomenon that promotes integration, the strengthening of groups and communities, and both individual and collective emotional health. The most emblematic characteristics that define it are described below:
Education is the fundamental tool of healthy coexistence. The individual must be formed for peace and justice through fundamental values that are the root of their behavior.
This guarantees that society advances in order to evolve and make the world a better place to live..
Healthy coexistence supposes a relational dynamic that encourages integration through knowledge of the other, the establishment of mutual agreements and clear rules that are respected out of conviction. In this way, it achieves that each one is recognized as part of a whole, and those who make it up know and defend their agreements.
Within any coexistence process, it is healthy for communication to be as assertive as possible. In addition to the message being clear and direct, it is necessary that emotionally its non-verbal elements contribute to the optimal understanding.
The idea is to avoid distortions and promote that both verbal and non-verbal elements complement each other within the communicational process..
This allows the individual to be consistent by acting in accordance with their beliefs, without fear of expressing themselves or refuting ideas, always seeking enriching discussion. In this way you can define your purposes, identify and enhance your capabilities, exchange your ideas and give your opinion on different ones without generating conflicts..
This aspect is fundamental in healthy coexistence, since it is what will allow the resolution of conflicts and the establishment of agreements in a peaceful and concerted manner. This avoids creating toxic and reactive environments, but rather promotes reconciliation.
To the extent that the individual joins the public stages in order to train and deliberate, they will be contributing to the development and healthy growth of communities..
By participating actively, you will inevitably be promoting the enrichment of the population by obtaining timely information and developing social skills..
Assuming to be part of the solution of conflicts and problems in a constructive way strengthens the commitment of each member of society.
Providing assertive and accurate solutions in a timely manner allows for positive leadership with ideas in favor of progress, aimed at seeking kinder and more successful spaces.
History reminds us that whatever the value system of different societies, none can demonstrate that it is essentially endowed with tolerance, just as none can be accused of infinite intolerance..
Taking into account the above, the recommendation is to promote solidarity and live with others without letting one's own convictions be exclusive.
In this context, the teaching and exercise of values is decisive, because it is important to understand that everyone is equally worthy, but that differences exist and allow each person to be distinguished by their talents, convictions and beliefs. This differentiation is a key factor for the enrichment of civilizations.
Among the most necessary values for a healthy coexistence, the following stand out:
- The education.
- Ethics.
- Respect.
- The tolerance.
- Justice.
- Peace.
- The Solidarity.
- Freedom.
The balanced exercise of these values must prevail on the individual fact in a conjunctural and critical moment of humanity, in favor of a vision of peaceful coexistence as immediate as possible.
There is a set of rules that guide and support a better coexistence. The human being must adhere to these norms by mutual agreement in order to regulate actions within a system of interpersonal relationships..
These relationships are developed in the daily activity of individuals in the different areas in which they operate; For this reason, it is essential to apply these rules in daily life.
Among the most common standards are the following:
- Dignify the human condition.
- Do not discriminate.
- Guarantee the protection of the environment.
- Establish assertive and efficient communications.
- Take responsibility for your own mistakes.
- Find effective and healthy solutions to conflicts.
- Live daily within a scheme of mutual respect.
- Comply with the commitments acquired voluntarily.
- Be proactive and promote everyone's participation.
- Be patient.
- Be tolerant and supportive.
- Exercise learned values.
- Educate for the development of social and affective skills.
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