PBS Correspondent Judy Valente reports on Conflict Resolution Circles – practices rooted in Quaker, Mennonite and North American Indian spirituality, and how two Kansas schools use the ’circle’ method to end the revolving door of suspension and expulsion of students. Teachers say they hope the students will take the peace making skills they learn at school out into their communities.

The Louisville, Kentucky-based Peace Education Program strengthens communities and schools by training youth and adults to build and sustain positive relationships.
Their new Building Blocks video series includes a 4-part presentation from Durk “Mr. D” Davidson, champion of the navigators program, intended for middle and high school age youth. The topics are as follows:

1. #1 Brainstorming Conflicts and Conflict Styles
2. #2 Anger Triggers and Anger Cues
3. #3 Feelings on the Conflict Escalator
4. #4 Strategies for Calming Down

Also available is a similar 4-part series from Ms. Carrie Christensen, coordinator of programming, intended for elementary and middle school age youth. The full series is available here: Peace Ed’s Video Lessons

In lieu of a more punitive approach, students use restorative practices to resolve conflicts and reflect on their behaviors. Conflict resolution is a key aspect of Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School’s approach to infractions that previously might have merited in-school suspension. In the school’s restorative circles, counselors guide students to recognize the impact of their behavior on their peers and the school as a whole.

When Drew Beiter and Mark Gudgel met at a teacher training program at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, they shared a love for Rwanda and a desire to help its teachers provide quality Holocaust and genocide education. Supported by a seed grant from the Museum and other partners, they realized their vision with the first annual Educators Institute on Human Rights, Rwanda, held July 31 to August 2, 2011 in Kigali. They hoped to hold another conference in Rwanda in the next year and expand their efforts to other countries. They have been successful. Learn more about the Educators Institute on Human Rights: http://www.eihr.org/.

The Teacher’s Democracy Project of Baltimore Maryland has produced a 14-minute video about how schools implement Restorative Practices district-wide. Listen to the voices of experience from teachers who have worked on bringing RJ to their learning environments.

Schools across the country are moving away from an era of zero-tolerance policies and shifting toward methods that involve restorative justice, encouraging students to resolve their differences by talking to each other rather than resorting to violence. In New York City, five schools that have implemented this system are already seeing results. NewsHour Weekend’s Megan Thompson reports.