Book Review: Kids Working it Out: Stories and Strategies for Making Peace in Schools.
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Book Review
Greg Strong reviews Kids Working it Out, which provides an overview of resources in conflict resolution education for parents, educators, and policymakers looking for ways to help young people learn constructive responses to conflict, build positive relationships, and promote just societies.
Tricia S. Jones and Randy Compton. San Francisco: Josey Bass. ISBN:
0-7879-6379-8
Reviewed by Gregory Strong
In recent years, a number of deadly incidents in schools in, for example, the United States and Germany have dramatized issues of conflict and violence in school settings. With all of this in view, Tricia Jones and Randy Compton, editors of this book, offer resources in conflict resolution education for parents, educators, and policymakers looking for ways to help young people
The book consists of two overarching parts. Part one, more theoretical, covers the need for and potential of conflict resolution education. Part two, more practical, deals with “what works” – that is, with success stories in conflict resolution education. In each part chapters are written by experts and practitioners in the field. Additionally, in part two, each chapter ends with personal reflections by participants in conflicts and conflict resolution processes. Appendices provide information on additional books, publications, websites, organizations, and programs of relevance to conflict resolution in school settings.
Chapter Summaries:
Foreword
Introduction
Kids and conflicts in schools
An introduction to conflict resolution education
The building blocks of conflict resolution education
The heart of the matter: Social and emotional learning as a foundation for conflict resolution education
“We can handle this ourselves”: Learning to negotiate conflicts
Students helping students: Peer mediation
“We can do it too!”: Peer mediation for special education students
Express yourself! Expressive arts and conflict discovery
Making meaningful connections: Curriculum infusion
Making things right: Restorative justice for school communities.
School bullying: Prevention and intervention
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: Appreciating and welcoming differences
School’s out: Time for fun, relaxation, and peaceful conflict resolution education
Reflections on stories of success
Postscript: The importance of supporting conflict resolution education.
June 2004
Reviewed by Gregory Strong
In recent years, a number of deadly incidents in schools in, for example, the United States and Germany have dramatized issues of conflict and violence in school settings. With all of this in view, Tricia Jones and Randy Compton, editors of this book, offer resources in conflict resolution education for parents, educators, and policymakers looking for ways to help young people
- learn constructive responses to conflict
- build positive relationships
- promote just societies.
The book consists of two overarching parts. Part one, more theoretical, covers the need for and potential of conflict resolution education. Part two, more practical, deals with “what works” – that is, with success stories in conflict resolution education. In each part chapters are written by experts and practitioners in the field. Additionally, in part two, each chapter ends with personal reflections by participants in conflicts and conflict resolution processes. Appendices provide information on additional books, publications, websites, organizations, and programs of relevance to conflict resolution in school settings.
Chapter Summaries:
Foreword
Introduction
Kids and conflicts in schools
An introduction to conflict resolution education
The building blocks of conflict resolution education
The heart of the matter: Social and emotional learning as a foundation for conflict resolution education
“We can handle this ourselves”: Learning to negotiate conflicts
Students helping students: Peer mediation
“We can do it too!”: Peer mediation for special education students
Express yourself! Expressive arts and conflict discovery
Making meaningful connections: Curriculum infusion
Making things right: Restorative justice for school communities.
School bullying: Prevention and intervention
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: Appreciating and welcoming differences
School’s out: Time for fun, relaxation, and peaceful conflict resolution education
Reflections on stories of success
Postscript: The importance of supporting conflict resolution education.
June 2004
