Learning P.E.A.C.E. Educator's Training - Program Description

All too often today our classrooms and playgrounds have become battlefields for teachers and students alike. Effective coping strategies and skills, which would offer us mastery in dealing with these and other difficult situations, seem elusive. The ability to draw on peaceful and effective communication, meeting one's own needs, enjoying life, creating harmonious interaction with others, and receiving acceptance from self and others are goals each one of us strive toward. Yet, as a rule, we are not specifically taught, trained nor prepared for developing positive, healthy self-expression nor peaceable co-existence. The pervasive influence of the media, the breakdown of traditional family structures, the absence of role models, and the declining influence of values and religion distance us further from achieving these goals and leading a fulfilled and happy life.

We would like to present a remarkable and effective program capable of helping reverse the trend. Although there are many programs for schools on the market today, Learning P.E.A.C.E. is unique and state-of-the-art being comprehensive in its scope by defining personal values, attending to fundamental social skills, clarifying myriad facets of potential violence, and being designed for school-wide application. School staff and the student body are offered the opportunity to significantly transform their school atmosphere and classroom experience. Both adults and children gain skills and support for building self-esteem, self-mastery, conflict resolution, and effective communication. Teachers, students, parents and the community at large profit from its use.

Each of the independent yet interwoven building blocks - Lessons on Living, Building Self-Esteem, The Art of Discipline, Conflict Resolution and Violence Prevention, Dealing with Bullying and Peer Mediation - is a complete program unto itself. Each building block can, therefore, be requested and used effectively as an individual training if so desired. Yet used together they complement, underline and deepen the other elements of the concept. Each provides direct, experiential learning, concrete tools and theory to implement (daily and practically), and attributes of living and working well together. In addition to laying the foundation for a positive social environment, Learning P.E.A.C.E. identifies and works with the seeds of potential violence and the stress caused by misunderstanding of life's natural conflicts and aggressions. Through role-plays, creative exercises and activities these potentially explosive situations can be diffused and re-directed to truly meet each individual's needs. The diverse practical tools and lesson plans can be integrated into subjects such as social studies, math, language arts, art, foreign languages, etc. Perhaps most importantly, the training is process-oriented, meaning that current circumstances, methodology, staff composition and school goals serve as the structure used to implement the content of the program. Over time, when the majority of classes and staff are involved in the training process and implementation of Learning P.E.A.C.E. and the building blocks are integrated into daily school life, the entire school environment becomes noticeably transformed.

The teacher's training is tailored for concrete classroom application, immediately making the classroom experience more enjoyable, less disruptive and, as a result, more effective for the learning and teaching experience. Hence, teachers gain the time, energy and attention necessary to do their job and impart their lessons in a rewarding way. It provides individual educators and the entire school staff with the necessary theory, examples, and exercises to embark upon this revolutionary experience.

Through the use of role-plays, group discussion, exploration and problem-solving of actual class problems, and various other learning channels, teachers have the opportunity to groom skills and gain insights immediately applicable to their daily work. The staff as a whole are facilitated by the trainers through a process of taking-stock, goal-setting, and planning implementation and self-evaluation. The focus is on team building; paths of communication; clarity among teachers, parents and community; and ongoing evaluation. Parent involvement and support is vital to mutual good relations and to the success of the program. Hence the need and methods for integrating parents into the program is integral to the planning process.

The Learning P.E.A.C.E. Educator's Training Program is currently being taught and successfully used in schools in Canada, northern Europe and the Caribbean, and is fast becoming a mandatory experience for schools dedicated to the social mastery and the academic excellence of their students.