PHYSICAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION & CONFLICT

RESOLUTION

Anita Watkins School Safety EDU 615-B1

04/18/10

Introduction Resolving physical violence and conflict in schools is

achievable. As educators, we all play a part in fostering an environment that supports effective strategies that promote safety, good citizenship, and communication. In this effort, it is imperative to demonstrate to students various ways that they can manage and recognize emotions. Conflict resolution can be implemented in our classrooms by using existing curriculum. This model is effective in producing:

less physical violence and other disciplinary violations increased student cooperation in the classroom lower rates of suspension lower dropout rates

Introduction cont’d

It is also helpful in creating ways for students to counsel their peers. Peer mentoring groups support negotiation, mediation and assist in developing communication skills. Peer mentoring is effective in:

positive student interpersonal relations reinforcing communication teaching skills for resolving conflict without physical violence

Essential Question: How can a school create the climate variables that foster

communication and positive relationships?

Objectives:

1. Integrate conflict resolution skills and training using the existing curriculum

2. Create ways for students to share their concerns

1. INTEGRATE CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS AND TRAINING USING THE

EXISTING CURRICULUM

Through the use of our district’s curriculum, we can effectively nurture conflict resolution skills. Using strategies in subjects such as English, Language Arts, Humanities, and Social Studies we can cultivate and reinforce emotional intelligences.

Strategy Use cooperative pairs Using academic material define and identify conflict Students take turns sharing personal experiences that

are connected to academic material Students can take turns interviewing each other about

conflict Teacher can supply students with meaningful and

interesting questions relevant to conflict, that they can ask each other

Have students work together to reach a mutual agreement

Students may take opposite positions of conflict

This strategy will: Encourage students to help each other Foster positive student interpersonal

relations Foster listening attentively Encourage negotiation Promote good citizenship and character

2. Create ways for students to share their concerns

Through the use of peer mentoring groups, students can learn to negotiate constructively. They can discover appropriate strategies for dealing with feelings, resolving conflict and not succumbing to physical violence.

Strategy Create and establish a peer mediation group Have in place a system of referring students

with conflict to the group Implement activities that emphasize positive

relationships Implement activities that recognize and

manage emotions Implement activities that help develop caring

and concern for others Have students work together to resolve

conflict

Strategy cont’d

Use writing prompts like the following:

“Who is someone that you admire?

“What qualities make that person effective as a leader?”

These strategies will:

Nurture positive emotions Allow students to practice and reinforce

emotional intelligence Support and foster positive relationships Promote good citizenship and character Teach appropriate strategies for dealing

with feelings Help resolve conflict before it leads to

physical violence

Nationally, the occurrence of physical violence has decreased since 1993, although, in some urban

school districts they have increased

NATIONWIDE OCCURRENCES OF PHYSICAL FIGHTING IN SCHOOLS OUR SCHOOL

Between 1993 and 2007 fighting in schools declined from 16% to 12%

Between 2005 and 2009 incidents of fighting rose by 19%

Conclusion Based on our school’s physical

violence trend, the time has come for us to implement the appropriate variables that foster conflict resolution and positive relationships in our students. We can develop strategies by using our existing curriculum creatively. We can also use their peers to nurture skills that facilitate good citizenship and character.

ReferencesStevahn, L. (2004). Integrating Conflict Resolution Training into the Curriculum. Retrieved April 12, 2002 www.nasponline.org/resources/principals/schoolsresiliency.pdf

Skiba, R.J., Peterson, R.L. (2000). Preventing School Violence: A Practical Guide to Comprehensive Planning. Retrieved April 12, 2010, www.indiana.edu/~iepc/

Skiba, R., Peterson, R. L. (2000). Creating a Positive Climate. Peer Mediation What Works in Preventing School Violence. Retrieved April 13, 2010 www.indiana.edu/~safeschl/PeerMediation.pdf

Skiba, R., Peterson, R.L. (2000). Creating a Positive Climate. Violence Prevention and Conflict Resolution Curriculum. Retrieved April 13, 2010. www.indiana.edu/~safeschl/ViolencePrevention.pdf

National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Bureau of Justice Statistics Retrieved April 13, 2010. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010012.pdf