|
Upcoming events associated with
the international Conflict Resolution Day on
October 16 will highlight many aspects of conflict
in the world, one of which is school violence. The
Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) has
just released a statement on school violence
acknowledging the role that educators, conflict
resolvers, and other professionals and volunteers in
our communities and educational settings have in
increasing understanding and reducing prejudice that
is often central to conflicts.
The statement:
The tragedies at Northern
Illinois University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University, West Nickel Mines Amish
School, Red Lake Senior High School, and sadly, a
number of other schools, colleges, and universities
in the past, are stark reminders of the prevalence
and impact of violence in our communities. They are
urgent calls for us each to do more to prevent,
reduce and resolve conflicts which lead to violence,
and to help support and restore communities and
individuals devastated by violence. We must also
examine the conditions which make it possible for
such violence to be so frequently perpetrated,
especially on our young and vulnerable.
Conflict resolvers, educators,
and other professionals and volunteers in our
communities and educational settings play key roles
in increasing understanding and reducing prejudice —
by gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation,
political views, and other social groupings — which
so often are central to conflicts. Enhancing a
community’s skills in conflict resolution and
dialogue has been proven to reduce isolation and
stress, which are important factors that contribute
to suicide and homicide. There are times, of course,
when, despite every attempt to provide safe
conditions and a supportive environment, tragedies
ensue. Even then, those trained in listening and
dialogue skills can help members of a bereaved and
angry community discuss their experiences
constructively.
Resources for local schools, campuses, and
communities addressing school violence are available
on the
ACR
Education Section website at
http://www.mediate.com/acreducation/.
About the Association for Conflict Resolution
The
Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is a
professional organization dedicated to enhancing the
practice and public understanding of conflict
resolution. ACR represents and serves a diverse
national and international audience that includes
more than 5,000 mediators, arbitrators,
facilitators, educators, and others involved in the
field of conflict resolution and collaborative
decision-making. For more information about ACR,
visit
http://www.ACRnet.org.
|
