Programmes The Drumcondra Education Centre Initiative on Conflict Resolution Education.
Pictured on Tuesday April 13th, in Drumcondra Education Centre at the launch of the Resolving Book Series are Fergus Finlay (guest speaker), Fiona McAuslan (co-author) and Peter Nicholson (co-author).
One of the difficulties to date in handling conflict issues, with school students in particular, is the assumption and misunderstanding that all such issues are 'behaviour' based. In other words, if we can control and / or change the behaviour, the problem will be solved! However, the key to resolving conflict is to understand and acknowledge that it is fundamentally 'relational' and that our social and emotional intelligence skills play a significant role in its positive resolution. If we understand and accept this perspective, then we begin to see the 'difficult behaviour' as a symptom and a manifestation of a deeper and more complex 'relational issue' which must be addressed if the behaviour is to change. This requires the linking of social emotional learning with a conflict resolution skills-base.
Today's society has moved away from a hierarchical mono theistic /single philosophy society to one which is multi-cultural /multi-faith and pluralistic where equality of views and respecting difference are the new cornerstones to policy making. This means that old structures of authority are giving way to a new glue in our society - that of social-emotional understanding. We, at the Drumcondra Education Centre, believe that this perspective challenges us as educators to find new skills which assist us in understanding the systemic nature of the school and classroom 'discipline' issues that face us. It requires from us a sense of personal responsibility and a relational perspective to the behavioural issues that face our schools.
Based on a perceived need for a new approach in our schools, the Drumcondra Education Centre has been working for a number of years in collaboration with Ms Fiona McAuslan, conflict resolution expert and mediator, in developing a range of responses to the discipline and behavior issues that are part and parcel of everyday life in schools. These involve up-skilling teachers and students in this complex area of the positive resolution of conflict issues.
The Centre offers face to face courses on conflict resolution techniques for primary and post-primary teachers. The primary programme is a research-based process and programme - S.A.L.T. (Stop, Ask, Listen, Talk) for the up-skilling of primary school children in conflict resolution techniques. This interactive programme focuses on teaching students to handle and resolve their own rows and disputes independently. It involves teaching children in the age groups 4-8 and 8-12 how to recognise a conflict and the emotions they experience in conflict situations and how to negotiate effectively to create a better outcome for themselves and others. The objective is to help every child develop their own set of skills to effectively deal with conflicts they may encounter in either the school yard or in the classroom.
Key aspects of S.A.L.T. include:
- A practical and easy introduction to appropriate conflict resolution skills for all the children in schools, regardless of age or background
-
A framework for introducing a whole-school programme to minimize arguments and rows in the school yard and classroom
-
Conflict Assessment forms to record incidents of conflict, assess children's involvement and identify appropriate follow-on actions
-
Step by step lessons and colourful interactive teaching ideas so that children can now handle and resolve their own rows and disputes independently
-
Interactive and lively conflict stories to enhance children's understanding of the reasons for conflict and to give them an accessible route into talking about conflict and exploring its resolution
-
Access to an emotionally sound and structured programme that will link children's social, emotional and behavioural education within any curriculum.
From such humble beginnings as the organizing of a local workshop for teachers, the programme has gone from strength to strength. In the schools where it has been introduced, it has proved equally popular with teachers, students and parents. One of the key elements of 'S.A.L.T.' is the use of stories by the teacher to address various incidents of conflict familiar to children such as rows over games. The children are presented with "before" scenarios where the conflict escalates out of control and "after" scenarios where the characters use certain skills which lead to resolution of the conflict. Pupils also take part in role plays and discussions and learn simple listening, talking and anger management skills with an emphasis on repetition. The message from the programme is that in everyday life things will go wrong but that it is how we deal with the problem and how we handle the situation and others which is essential to a positive resolution for all concerned. The S.A.L.T. programme gives young people the skills to think about a situation rather than overreacting to it. It's about learning to act in the crisis of the moment so that they don't react badly. The programme is very important in the social education of every child from an early age and it contains the potential to deliver long term benefits to society at large. A key element in the delivery of the programme is the up-skilling of teachers in its delivery in the classroom.
Teacher training in the S.A.L.T. process continues to be provided through the Drumcondra Education Centre's Spring and Autumn local courses programme and its face-to face and online Summer Course Programme. In 2010 it is hoped to commence the development of an equivalent research-based programme for use in post-primary schools.
Drumcondra Education Centre hosted an Education Conference on October 6th, 2009 on the topic of conflict resolution in schools: Is there a better way? - exploring positive approaches to conflict in our schools. The aim of this event was to initiate discussion and debate on this important personal and organisational issue, which impacts on all members of the school community.
Fiona McAuslan is a recognised conflict resolution expert, working for many organisations including The Family Mediation Service and The Clanwilliam Institute in Ireland. She has an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from University College, Dublin and has partnered with Drumcondra Education Centre to create conflict resolution skills training for the Irish Education System. Her most recent publication. 'The Resolving Book Series'( www.resolvingbooks.com), was launched by Fergus Finlay, Bernardos, in Drumcondra Education Centre on April 13th 2010. For more information please click here.
The Creative Solutions to Conflict for Primary Schools: The SALT Programme pack is available from Outside the Box Learning Resources and Learning Horizons. Outside the Box Learning Resources Ltd, W6W Tougher's Business Park, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare. Tel: 045-409322 www.otb.ie or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Learning Horizons, 44 Laurel Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 or from Drumcondra Education Centre, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, to order please phone 01 8576400.
