Conflict Resolution Education - National Criminal Justice Reference ...

Chapter 10: Establishing Conflict
Resolution Education Programs
Although there is no set formula for how to implement
conflict resolution programs in schools, youthserving
organizations, or community and juvenile
justice settings, most successful programs begin with
an extensive needs assessment and planning process.
This chapter will use the school setting as an example
of developing and implementing a conflict
resolution education program, but this information
is transferable to settings in youth-serving organizations,
community programs, and juvenile justice
facilities.
To develop, implement, and sustain a successful
conflict resolution program, participants must
embrace the belief that conflicts can be resolved
peacefully. Many adults in schools and other youthserving
settings are familiar with and most comfortable
using conflict resolution that is grounded in
methods such as the exercise of adult authority,
reliance on school rules, discipline hearings, and
other administrative procedures. Moving from
these methods to one that encourages people to
talk about their interests and needs and to work
collaboratively to come up with solutions requires
a major paradigm shift.
It is important to realize that students’ success in
developing an awareness of the positive potential
of conflict resolution is an outgrowth of the endeavors
and commitment exhibited by the adults in the
school to approach conflict in a positive way. Educators
who bring positive ways of resolving conflict
into their classrooms will see results that will have
a powerful effect on their own lives and work as
well as on the lives and work of their students and
on the communities in which they live.
A successful conflict resolution education program is
the product of a continuous process that begins by
organizing a planning team with broad representation
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Many minor arguments become deadly
confrontations because many young people
only know how to use violence to solve
their problems. Conflict resolution education
shows them another way.
Attorney General Janet Reno1 of the school community, including parents, teachers,
administrators, and community representatives.
Many schools will be able to use the school advisory
committees or site-based councils that are already
in place as a planning team. The planning team is
responsible for conducting a needs assessment and
for facilitating the process of planning the implementation
of the program. An example of a process
for planning is provided in appendix H.
Analyzing School Conflict: Needs
Assessment
A needs assessment is critical to establishing a conflict
resolution education program that moves beyond
the efforts of individual staff toward a united
effort of the entire school community. The assessment
surveys teachers, students, parents, and administrators
to determine the nature of conflict in
the school and how conflict is addressed. Support
for the introduction of any new program into a
school depends to a large extent on:
♦ The degree to which the school staff see that the
program addresses current needs.
♦ The degree to which the program is incorporated
into existing school improvement plans and extends
or embellishes the school mission.