1. Physical Violence Prevention & Conflict Resolution
Anita Watkins
School Safety
EDU 615-B1
04/18/10

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. This strategy will: Encourage students to help each other
Foster positive student interpersonal relations
Foster listening attentively
Encourage negotiation
Promote good citizenship and character

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Strategy cont’d “Who is someone that you admire?
Use writing prompts like the following:
“Who is someone that you admire?
“What qualities make that person effective as a leader?”

11. 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

12. Between 1993 and 2007 fighting in schools declined from 16% to 12%
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 and incidents of fighting rose by 19%

13. 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.

14. References
Stevahn, L. (2004). Integrating Conflict Resolution Training into the
Curriculum. Retrieved April 12, 2002
Skiba, R.J., Peterson, R.L. (2000). Preventing School Violence: A Practical
Guide to Comprehensive Planning. Retrieved April 12, 2010,
Skiba, R., Peterson, R. L. (2000). Creating a Positive Climate. Peer Mediation
What Works in Preventing School Violence.
Retrieved April 13, 2010
Skiba, R., Peterson, R.L. (2000). Creating a Positive Climate. Violence
Prevention and Conflict Resolution Curriculum.
Retrieved April 13, 2010.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Bureau of Justice Statistics