Since the late 19th century, school curriculum has increasingly focused on academics rather than teaching virtues (Shawrtz, 2007). State and national standards, as well as No Child Left Behind legislation, underscore the emphasis on academics and knowledge acquisition in the classroom. Education of the hearts of children has been left behind. Workshop participants in this session engaged in a discussion about several texts, and examined others to plan and practice leading a book-based discussion of this kind. Strategies to help teachers select appropriate children’s literature and plan for book-based discussions that focus on issues related to social justice were offered.
Archive
New York Guidelines for Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL)
This presentation, part of a panel entitled “State-wide Initiatives in New York and Ohio: Creating Positive Learning Environments” featured New York Department of Education representative Mark Barth discussing the New York Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) Guidelines which encourage school districts to address children’s and adolescents’ affective development in support of their challenging academic preparations. SEDL is part of a united effort outlined in The Children’s Plan, 2008 written by New York’s nine child serving agencies. This Plan is in support of the NY Board of Regent’s Reform Agenda which views social-emotional supports and community services to students as key strategies in turning around low performing schools.
Horizon Community: Character Reformation and CRE in an Adult Prison
The Horizon Community at Marion Correctional Institution (Marion, Ohio USA) was founded as an interfaith, character-based, conflict resolution residential program for adult male inmates. Program evaluations show impressive reductions in recidivism. Recidivism of graduates is less than 12%, compared to the national average of 65-66%. The essence of the Horizon program is building respect for self and others, and establishing a new link between faith communities and the correctional institution for rehabilitation purposes. This workshop presented a detailed overview of Horizon and provide examples of CRE adaptations for the prison environment and links to multiple faith traditions.
Teaching Emotional Intelligence: Strategies & Activities for Helping Students Make Effective Choices
Handout from a presentation on experiential, cognitive-behavioral approach to helping youth make informed, positive choices regarding their emotional, physical, mental and social well-being. Creative methods to help students examine and reframe the assumptions which inform their thoughts, trigger their emotions and lead to their behaviors were shared.
Advancing CR Ed at the School and System Levels (Maryland)
Presenters discuss an innovative partnership among the state judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office, the University of Maryland School of Law’s Center for Dispute Resolution, and the Maryland State Department of Education. Maryland has introduced several school-based programs into Baltimore City Schools, such as the Daily Rap, My Baby’s Daddy family systems training, truancy mediation, and School Police conflict resolution training.
State-wide Initiative for Creating Positive Learning Environments (Ohio)
In this presentation the Ohio Department of Education highlights various risk and climate indicators and the relationships that provide powerful, empirical predictors of school and student success.
Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence Against Children: Local Solutions for Ohio
Sexual abuse statistics vary between countries and reports, but are consistently alarming: One country’s research indicates that up to 36% of girls and 29% of boys have suffered child sexual abuse; another study reveals up to 46% of girls and 20% of boys have experienced sexual coercion (The 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights). In this portion of a panel presention lead by Jimmie Briggs, Debra Seltzer explains the approach to prevention and intervention taken by the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, Ohio Department of Health.
Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence Against Children: Global to Local Strategies of the ISPA
Sexual abuse statistics vary between countries and reports, but are consistently alarming: One country’s research indicates that up to 36% of girls and 29% of boys have suffered child sexual abuse; another study reveals up to 46% of girls and 20% of boys have experienced sexual coercion (The 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights). In this portion of a panel presention lead by Jimmie Briggs, Bill Pfohl explains the approach to prevention and intervention taken by the International School Psychology Association (ISPA).
From the Ground Up: Lessons in Growing the Central Michigan Restorative Justice Initiative (CMRJI)
As Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices are gaining attention and credibility world-wide, school districts and non-profits are looking for ways to implement programs in their communities. In its fifth year, the Central Michigan Restorative Justice Initiative (CMRJI) has learned a lot of lessons we’d like to share with you! Join us to learn from our experience and use our handouts to begin developing ideas for how you can translate those into a vibrant RJ program in your community.
Children Of War: Psychological Aspects
A presentation given at a screening of the film CHILDREN of WAR by Bryan Single. The presentation examines the psychological aspects of trauma and recovery for child soldiers. The accompanying film, filmed inside the war zone of northern Uganda over a period of three years, is a unique and incandescent documentary which captures the story of a group of former child soldiers as they undergo a process of emotional and spiritual healing while in a rehabilitation center. Having been abducted from their homes and schools and forced to become fighters by the Lord’s Resistance Army – a quasi-religious militia led by self-proclaimed prophet and war criminal Joseph Kony – the children struggle to confront and break through years of brutal abuse, extreme religious ideology, and participation in war crimes with the help of a heroic team of trauma counselors.
Policy to Programs: Initiatives by the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management
This presentation highlights past, present, and future work of the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. Projects include models for comprehensive programs in K-12 education, higher education policy development and more. In addition to the state level view, a former School Conflict Management Program grantee of the Commission shares implementation tips from a local perspective.
Training Veteran Educators to Be Peace Educators
The presenter described the efficacy of the 3-day Peaceful Schools Institute (2007-2009), funded by the Connelly Foundation, and attended by Catholic school educators (grades K-8), from 51 schools. All attendees are members of an on-line professional development community which serves as a vehicle to share challenges and successes with the implementation of Peaceful School practices, throughout the year. The presenter reviewed the agenda, the learning objectives, and the pedagogy of the Peaceful Schools Institute, which places special emphasis on: adopting a problem-solving orientation to teaching and learning; developing key conflict resolution skills that support existing curriculum and classroom practices; and building an ongoing professional learning community.
Conflict Dialogue for Diverse Students and Teachers
Alternative Approaches to Restorative Problem-Solving and Proactive Conflict Education
Facilitators in this session highlighted promising research on two conflict dialogue initiatives. The first is a restorative justice problem-solving circle engaging offenders, those they have harmed, and community representatives in understanding a problem and its causes and consequences, and jointly creating solutions that repair harm done and rebuild healthy relationships. The second is a pro-active pedagogical strategy: inclusive dialogue processes address controversial issues and identity-linked social conflicts, such as citizenship education infused into the curriculum. Commonalities among various conflict dialogue approaches are reviewed and how these processes should be adjusted to include attention to participants’ diverse identities.
Understanding and Adapting Global Cultures
Cultural traditions vary greatly and often create misunderstandings when cultures interact. These slides examine traditions and habits of cultures and how these habits, gestures, words and actions may easily be misinterpreted as insulting, thereby causing disagreement or controversy. Understanding how the true meaning of cultural habits may lead to more peaceful interactions; Understanding how people feel when they come from a different culture may increase empathy, patience and tolerance for other cultures and their traditions.
Child Combatants, Gender Violence and the Evolution of A Youth-Led Movement
A presentation given by Jimmie Briggs at a screening of the film CHILDREN of WAR by Bryan Single. Filmed inside the war zone of northern Uganda over a period of three years, CHILDREN OF WAR is a unique and incandescent documentary which captures the story of a group of former child soldiers as they undergo a process of emotional and spiritual healing while in a rehabilitation center. Having been abducted from their homes and schools and forced to become fighters by the Lord’s Resistance Army – a quasi-religious militia led by self-proclaimed prophet and war criminal Joseph Kony – the children struggle to confront and break through years of brutal abuse, extreme religious ideology, and participation in war crimes with the help of a heroic team of trauma counselors.