Conflict Resolution Education: Goals, Models, Benefits and

Implementation

Tricia S. Jones, Ph.D.Temple University

Objectives

• Introduce CRE models and goals• Explain the relationship of CRE to other

programs• Review the proven benefits of CRE for

students and schools

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?

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

Content of CREEssential Skills and Abilities’

• orientation abilities• perception abilities• emotional abilities• communication abilities• creative-thinking abilities• critical thinking abilities

CRE Program Models

• Process curriculum approach• Mediation program approach• Peaceable classroom approach• Peaceable school approach

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

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

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

Goals of CRE ProgramsImprove Classroom Management

• Reduce the time teachers spend on discipline

• increase use of student-centered discipline

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

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

Relationship of CRE to Other Fields

Social and EmotionalLearning

Violence Prevention

Anti-BiasEducation

Law-RelatedEducation

Conflict Resolution Education

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

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

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

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