Conflict Resolution Education: Goals, Models, Benefits and Implementation

1. Conflict Resolution Education: Goals, Models, Benefits and Implementation Tricia S. Jones, Ph.D. Temple University

2. Objectives • Introduce CRE models and goals • Explain the relationship of CRE to other programs • Review the proven benefits of CRE for students and schools

3. Discussion Questions • What kinds of conflicts do you see in your districts/schools? • What are your needs for a Conflict Resolution Education program - where should the focus be? • What are your current efforts? • What are your challenges to establishing these programs?

4. Contents of CREProgram Components • An understanding of conflict • principles of conflict resolution • process steps in problem solving • skills required to use each of the steps effectively

5. Content of CREEssential Skills and Abilities’ • orientation abilities • perception abilities • emotional abilities • communication abilities • creative-thinking abilities • critical thinking abilities

6. CRE Program Models • Process curriculum approach • Mediation program approach • Peaceable classroom approach • Peaceable school approach

7. Goals of CRE Programs • Create a Safe Learning Environment • Create a Constructive Learning Environment • Improve Classroom Management • Enhance Students’ Social and Emotional Development • Create a Constructive Conflict Community

8. Goals of CRE ProgramsCreate a Safe Learning Environment • decrease incidents of violence • decrease anti-social behavior that leads to violence • decrease conflicts between groups of students • decrease suspensions, absenteeism, and drop out rates

9. Goals of CRE ProgramsCreate a Constructive Learning Environment • improve school climate • improve teacher/administrator/student relationships • increase valuing of diversity and practice of tolerance • promote a respectful and caring environment

10. Goals of CRE ProgramsImprove Classroom Management • Reduce the time teachers spend on discipline • increase use of student-centered discipline

11. Goals of CRE ProgramsEnhance Students’ Social and Emotional Development • increase perspective-taking • increase empathy • improve emotional awareness and management • reduce aggressive orientations and hostile attributions • increase use of constructive conflict behaviors

12. Goals of CRE ProgramsCreate a Constructive Conflict Community • increase parental and community involvement • link school CRE with larger commuity CRE efforts • develop more peaceful/peaceable school community

13. Relationship of CRE to Other Fields Violence Prevention Social and Emotional Learning Conflict Resolution Education Anti-Bias Education Law-Related Education

14. Violence Prevention • VP is more limited in scope • VP tends to focus more on systemic causes of violence than CRE • VP emphasizes policy change while CRE emphasizes individual skill building and community education

15. Social and Emotional Learning • SEL focuses more on general emotional competence • conflict management skills are related but lesser focus • SEL programs are geared more toward younger K-5 students

16. Anti-Bias Education • ABE focuses on cross-cultural awareness • ABE concentrates on prejudice reduction and appreciation for diversity • ABE has strong hate crime prevention elements • ABE examines the systemic roots of oppression and strategizing to dismantle them

17. Law-Related Education • LRE explores the foundations and processes of law and legal institutions • LRE focuses on the full spectrum of conflict management that overlaps with law and legal institutions