In today's culture where bullying and violence are on the rise, we know that children who are afraid or anxious are in no state of mind to learn. If you are serious about creating a safe school climate conducive to learning, this book will show you how. Written by counseling experts, "Safe and Peaceful Schools" provides a variety of research-based…

Gossiping staff in early childhood programs models destructive behavior and harms families' trust in the professionalism of the program. Bruno identifies some of the causes and motives for gossip and examines its occurrence in early care and education settings. She offers step-by-step strategies to help supervisors set and enact policies that…

This document was written by and for educators concerned about the classroom disruptions that steal instructional hours and endanger the safety of students. It also should be useful to community groups and parents who help children to develop productive skills in dealing with their own emotions and dealing with others in constructive ways. The…

Maintains that an environment of trust, protection, and mutual regard allows children to grow in the practice of cooperation, joint problem solving, and positive social behavior. Details ways for teachers to create a democratic and participatory climate, and a community of caring and well-being, in the classroom. (LB)

A Nebraska principal describes her experience of a two-day workshop in the assessment center at the University of Nebraska. Both the oral and written feedback helped her formulate long- and short-term goals, increased her skills in conflict resolution and stress management, and improved her classroom observation skills. (TE)

A unit on informed consent for first-year osteopathy students consists of pre- and posttests, a lecture, readings, small-group discussion, a model videotaped interview, and students' videotaped interviews with a simulated patient. Students were most successful in establishing patient rapport and discussion, least successful in conflict resolution…

This report highlights the safety initiatives developed at 31 public school districts across the country and designed to ensure that students have a safe and secure learning environment. Specific initiatives include violence-prevention programs, collaborative efforts among schools and communities, gang prevention and intervention efforts, peer…

Mediation programs in higher education devoted to resolution of faculty conflicts are discussed. The nature of the faculty enterprise and faculty peer conflicts is examined, and three universities' efforts to incorporate faculty-to-faculty conflict resolution systems on campus are described. The organizational culture of each institution defined…

This report discusses the use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution approaches in special education disagreements between the school and the parents of a child with a disability. The procedural safeguards and due process provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are explained. The report notes alternative…

These guidelines were developed by a national working group seminar hosted by the FIPSE-funded Conflict Management in Higher Education Resource Center. They provide a set of best-practices related to the establishment of conflict-handling services for colleges and universities. Seminar participants were carefully chose to represent faculty,…

Programs and practices that may be useful to those planning school improvements in the areas of discipline, student achievement, attendance, and drugs and alcohol are collected in this sampling of the broad array of programs available. The programs on discipline are aimed at classroom management, alternatives for the disruptive, conflict…

This document analyzes the responses to a survey conducted in 1997 on the role of the Ombuds Office in higher education, and also considers the characteristics of professional neutrality needed for successful conflict resolution. Of 178 institutions surveyed, 109 responses include 54 institutions with ombudsmen, 7 without such a position but with…

The report provides background information on the next reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act, and is intended for college and university financial aid officers. An introductory section chronicles the history of federal legislation for student financial aid. The next section outlines the congressional reauthorization process,…

The chair of the board of trustees leads the board and facilitates board processes. He or she plays an important role in ensuring that the board effectively governs the institution and that trustees work together well. The chair is often perceived as the major spokesperson for the board. She or he is usually the primary point of contact with the…

While the State Education Agency is responsible for providing mediation services, the process ultimately depends on the participation of administrators and parents in order to be successful. This resource describes the advantages and disadvantages of mediation from an administrator's perspective. The goal is to help other administrators make…