Teens, Crime, and the Community
Session 8
Learning Objectives: In this session, teens will learn to use communication and negotiation skills to manage conflict. They will . . .
Learning Objectives:
In this session, teens will learn to use communication and negotiation skills to manage conflict. They will learn how to identify conflicting positions and interests, and generate and evaluate solutions to problems. Teens who develop these skills will be less likely to commit crimes or be the victims of crimes, and will be better equipped to solve a variety of problems.
Tips to Enhance Session 8:-
Use supplementary materials. Print and distribute the NCPC brochure, Making Peace: Tips on Conflict Management (PDF). Discuss the brochure, along with the steps described in Step A, to remind students of what they learned in Session 7 and to let them know what they will learn from the current session.
Web Resources:-
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, Conflict Resolution Fact Sheet: Provides relevant information for teens about conflict management and resolution.
Community Resource People:-
Judge: Can provide information on mediation and conflict management, help teens understand the negative consequences of conflict, and discuss how positions and interests sway decisions and cause conflict. This community resource person can help teach Step B and explain Handout 1.
Remember to give the community resource person the session materials at least one week before he or she will participate in your class.
Service-Learning Project Ideas:-
Short Project: Students can visit a civil court to see conflict management, mediation, and resolution in action. Then, students can write a letter or article for the school newspaper discussing the role of mediators in conflict resolution.
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Medium-Length Project: Students can research current group conflict (such as conflict in political or international realms) and create display boards (or a mural) that integrate the facets of conflict, positions, interests, negotiation, and resolution. Then, they can create display boards that illustrate individual conflict. These displays will outline the same facets and illustrate the parallels in managing and diffusing conflict between individuals and groups.
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Long Project: Students can become peer mediators. The students will need to learn more about conflict management and resolution, and have a high degree of empathy. Then, they can create an after-school peer-mediation group that helps other students express their feelings in a positive manner, and resolve conflict.
