H.P. 301 - L.D. 365
Resolve, to Encourage Public Schools to Adopt a Conflict Resolution Model
Preamble. Whereas, recent statistics indicate that 51% of violence in Maine involves family violence, that there has been an increase in violent crimes and violent acts engaged in by Maine youths and that the suicide rate among Maine teens has risen; and
Whereas, the ways that many young people learn to deal with conflict and differences often divide them and inhibit their ability to confront common problems and to deal constructively with differences and conflicts; and
Whereas, through conflict resolution education and peer mediation training, children learn self-respect and respect for others, tolerance of differences and how to communicate their anger, fears and other feelings in a constructive, nonthreatening and nonviolent manner; and
Whereas, many educators are already trying to offer conflict resolution education and peer mediation training in their schools and need the support of the people of Maine in a comprehensive effort to make conflict management an integral part of our public school education; and
Whereas, educators and students can develop conflict resolution skills in a number of ways, including the direct instruction of specific skills, the infusion of concepts and principles into the existing curriculum, the modeling of constructive conflict resolution behavior by teachers and student peers, the development of peer mediation programs and the promotion of school discipline policies and practices that advocate mutual understanding of needs and concerns; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Department of Education authorized to support conflict resolution education initiatives. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall support appropriate conflict resolution education and professional development opportunities for public school teachers, administrators and students in the State. These opportunities must include:
1. Supporting the Maine School Management Association's efforts to promote existing conflict resolution models in our public schools to school board members and superintendents across the State through its newsletter, brochures and the inclusion of a conflict resolution session at its 1997 fall conference;
2. A session focusing on conflict resolution education models in the 1997 program of the Commissioner of Education's summer conference;
3. Continuing the needs assessment and program development initiatives of the department's student assistance team in supporting conflict management and peer mediation programs;
4. Encouraging the department's support team to advocate for the inclusion of conflict resolution and professional development course work as appropriate activities that may be included in the teacher recertification process; and
5. Conducting a survey to determine the status and types of various conflict resolution education and peer mediation models that are currently used in public schools in the State; and be it further
Sec. 2. Reporting date established. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Education shall report findings and any recommendations that result from this survey to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 30, 1998.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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