Our program is a successful model for creating a school culture that empowers all members of the community to take responsibility for their own actions and to reconcile with those they have had conflict in a mutually respectful, lasting way. We have been using our model of Nonviolence in schools for ten years and have documentation of reduction in negative behaviors. The results are striking and permanent. Our model involves an entire school, staff and students receiving training in the principles and steps of Nonviolence and how to reconcile conflict through a carefully orchestrated converstion model. It generally takes 18 months for the culture to shift within a school, once it occurs it is lasting. Staff and students report feeling comfortable and respected for who they are and feel that when conflicts occur they are minor compared to the past and are handled quickly and efficiently by the parties involved. Our curriculum, and protocol are available, as is information on training offered to begin the program in your school or community.

Problema

for the past thrity years I have worked on eduction reform and have consulted with schools on how to create more peaceful communities. Most of the programs I witnessed schools using or tried myself were temporary fixes, band-aids laid onto hemoraging wounds. Once the trainers were gone from the building things would quickly return to how they had been before the training. Ten years ago I became certified in Nonviolence training and quickly saw how effective it could be in schools. It really is the only program I ahve used or witnessed that has the power to create real transformation in individuals and communities. So many schools are at a loss for how to handle the feelings of anger, disconnection and disenfranchisment that so many youth feel today. Our children are under more stress than ever before and in frustration and confusion too many schools are beginning to criminalize our young people, creating tighter ristricions and tougher punishments. Over worked staff overlook incidents of bullying and students feel unjustly singled out or unheard. The response is often more acting out, worse disrespectful and even violent behavior. Our schools are too foten stuck in unhealthy vicious cycles - creating/encouraging the very behavior they seek to eradicate.