Conversation / WITH REMEDEAS KELLY-WEEKES : ‘If You Attend 75th St. School, You Are a Peacemaker’
Q. What is the Peacemaker Program?
A. It’s a conflict resolution program. Conflict resolution is like a catch-all for mediation skills, peacemaking, etc. [Children] are taught to resolve conflicts in positive ways. The program is based on 10 principles for peacemaking. It’s important they understand it’s OK to have conflicts because they are human beings. We’re stressing how to resolve those conflicts in positive ways. It’s important that they have alternatives to problems when they arise.
We started the program seven years ago. It was the idea of our assistant principal at the time, Bob Drummond. During the ‘88-’89 school year, we were having a tremendous problem with fighting on our schoolyard. We were literally suspending between nine and 12 children a day for fighting. [Drummond] wanted me to come to one of his grade assemblies where teachers reward children for their academic performances. He challenged the children at that time to become peacemakers.
I became aware the children didn’t have a real skill to deal with the conflicts; that was why they were having fights. They were reacting to the least little thing. Somebody walked by and stepped on their foot or knocked their backpack down. They would immediately react by pushing or shoving and that would escalate into a fight. We started giving them the necessary skills to teach them to stop for a moment and think about the the best way to handle this conflict. We told them, “Don’t just react--talk it over and go through the other skills.”
I began going in the classrooms and teaching the children about what it meant to be a peacemaker. I gave them four skills to help them defuse conflicts on the yard: Stop and think. Talk it over. Walk away. Or get an adult to help.
They began to hear a united message from all of us on campus--the custodians, the teachers, the administrators,--everyone began to compliment them as they began to exhibit attributes of a peacemaker. What began to happen was that they began to feel a sense of pride in themselves and in their school for being peacemakers. We were replacing the label of fighter with peacemaker.
At the end of a month, our children were recognized for outstanding work they’d done as peacemakers. We gave them certificates and small treat parties, like popcorn or punch. Their self-esteem began to soar. The number of fights diminished. Within the first two or three months of implementing the program, the number of suspensions went down from nine to 12 a day to one to four per week. Today we have maybe three a week. Another reason our program has been successful is that it’s a program that has changed the climate of the whole school. We don’t just choose leadership children. There is not a club you’re in. If you attend 75th St. School, you are a peacemaker.
The population of the school is around 1,500 students, pre-K through 5th grade [about 62% Latino and 32% black]. The majority of our children are very good kids. Their parents have also been excited about our program.
I feel good. I know it’s making a difference in their lives. My strongest concern is when they leave elementary school and go on to a middle school that doesn’t have this type of human relations program, they’re just kind of out there. We’ve lost a lot of children we saw making progress in resolving conflicts in positive ways. It has to be continuous throughout elementary, middle and high school.
During those teen-age years with all those concerns they face, what they need is something that’s going to really support them in those areas, because they’re so easily pulled back into fighting as a means to resolve an issue. We’re working with Dr. Angie Stockwell, our [LAUSD] superintendent of intergroup relations, to establish conflict resolution programs throughout our district. We’re not looking to do this overnight, but hopefully in phases.
The Kids’ View
The Peacemaker program is a way to get along better and not have many fights, and have more fun. It helps you figure out problems without fighting. If they’re small, you can talk them over and if they’re too big, you can go to an adult that will help you. It helps keep peace in the playground. There’s more friendship and less people getting hurt.
--Claudia Delgado, 11
Sometimes when I get in a fight, I try to stop and think about how it’s going to be worse when I start fighting. Then I try to solve the problem. I try to stop people from fighting. I tell them what’s going to happen because some people do get hurt and it starts with little problems that turn into big problems.
--Michelle Marquez, 9
I always used to get mad. Now I have more self-control. I don’t fight that much. I [got to sing about Peacemakers] in the auditorium. The whole class got in it.
--Melvin Smith, 8
When there’s a problem, I stop and think. Then if that doesn’t work, I’ll try to talk it over and if that doesn’t work I’ll walk away or tell the adults.
[Once] I got in a fight talking about people’s mothers. Other people told this girl that I’d been talking about her mother. Then they told the principal and I got in trouble for no reason.
They still came after me. So I waited intil I got home and told my Mom. She came up to school and told the principal. She sent those girls to the office and told them if they messed with me they were going to get suspended. The girls stopped messing with me.
--Ducreata Hendrix, 9
