From June 2001 NASW NEWS
Copyright ©2001, National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

Student Confrontation Reduced

The holistic approach of the training is a factor in its success.

By Corinna Vallianatos, NEWS Staff

More common than extreme acts of violence in schools is chronic, less extreme behavior — like name calling, insults and pushing and shoving — which is very responsive to conflict-resolution programs, according to an article in the April edition of NASW's journal Children and Schools.

The article, "A Comprehensive School-Based Conflict-Resolution Model" by social work professor Debra Woody, states that conflict-resolution training provided to an entire student body increased students' knowledge of nonviolent resolution methods, facilitated a more positive attitude about resolving conflict nonviolently and reduced the frequency of in-school violent confrontations.

Woody pinpointed the holistic approach of the training as a factor in its success: "It's a systematic approach. The principal of the school made it mandatory training. Every student, every teacher, every administrator and every secretary received the training, and they were required to use the skills."

She contrasted this to most school-based conflict-resolution programs, in which "the norm has been to provide conflict-resolution training to select groups of students."

Traditionally, she added, school-based social work intervention services are used "after the fact" in response to chronic conflict situations. But recently, "many school officials have adopted more preventive approaches," she said.

The conflict resolution program Woody studied was divided into three parts. The first part was a four-hour training session with fewer than 20 students at a time, who were taught skills in communication enhancement and negotiation. The second part was similar training for faculty and staff. Finally, there was "follow-up" training, in which teachers reviewed topics of the training.

"The next phase," said Woody, "is to add parents into the loop. While some problems are school related, there is a component that has roots at home."

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