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Principals and Teachers
1. “Teaching methods and activities used by People for Peace are outstanding. They address all learning styles effectively. We have budgeted to have them do some activities at our school every year as we have seen dramatic changes in our students’ behaviour, their ability to work together and the strategies they use to solve conflicts. They actually talk to one another about win/win solutions.”
2. “Maureen and Clare were absolutely terrific. Their commitment to presenting the course with clear structure and excellent content was great. Their consistent motivation was excellent. I enjoyed working with them.”
3. “Loved the positive caring presentation of the course. Excellent strategies, good preparation and involvement of parents. Maureen and Clare related very well to the students – spoke on their level.”
4. “The students now look at the others’ point of view and they are more wiling to accept differences.”
5. “We appreciate your flexibility and being able to go with the flow and your deep understanding of the constraints on schools and teachers. The sequences of activities is very good. It builds on itself and within the discussions provided, it revises previous sessions.”
6. “The content of each session is excellent. And the way it is presented is fantastic. You have achieved a good rapport with them in a short time. You give clear instructions and are using effective strategies for developing their talking and listening skills. I thank you for sharing your skills and talents with us. I know I have benefited also from these sessions both professionally and personally.”
7. “One boy in particular who has a ‘short fuse’ is behaving a little calmer and is at least considering these strategies. We have loved each session it is a valuable course. I wish it was available on a regular basis – perhaps even for 4th term in a revision slot.”
8. “Before the course students generally would not admit to their part in a conflict and basically demanded a win/lose situation. This led to a great deal of disharmony and tension with in the school. After the course the school appears to be a happier and more co-operative place.”
9. “I feel the Managing Conflict with Confidence course has been very beneficial to the Year 6 class especially at this stage of the year. Year 6 usually have has many teething problems associated with the start of their final Primary year. The children have responded very positively to the course and they are most eager to attend and participate. I have been impressed with the children throughout the course especially those children who have been in the past quite reserved and shy – they have been very involved and keen to participate. The enthusiasm shown by our 2 convenors Maureen and Clare adds greatly to the course and I feel the students have gained a wealth of ideas that will help them in problem solving and conflict resolving that will be extremely important in their High School years. Congratulations on a very worthwhile course.”
10. “Most students now see that there are 2 sides to every conflict. They understand that people can have different perceptions of events and circumstances. One year 6 boy has become a real ‘peacemaker’, another avoids conflict with long term’ enemies’ and a real ‘thug’ is now able to reason about his behaviour. All children are now able to discuss their behaviour in a rational manner. There were some very interesting activities and very positive outcomes.”
11. “The students have become more willing to talk about conflicts with each other and with staff.”
12. “Children on the whole are more aware, willing to talk work out conflicts. In class there was a squabble over pencils – student not involved suggested they work it out which they did and came to an easy win/win.”
13. “The course was very professionally run and delivered. Maureen and Clare were a pleasure to work with and they interacted with the students very well. I would welcome the opportunity to work with them again.”
14. “Before the course there were many underhanded power struggles where manipulation and passive/aggressive behaviour dominated. They now seem more aware of the choices in behaviour, in the way they react and respond. It is easier to deal with aggressive behaviour, passive behaviour and passive/aggressive behaviour by using the technical terms and then encourage more assertive behaviour. One of my students always has difficulty in group work but managed better last week. I commented on this and she said the course had helped her to allow other people to have an opinion. This course has been great and hopefully we will run it again. Thank you for being so professional in your teaching and so gracious too. The girls enjoyed their 9 afternoons for both the content of the lessons and the opportunity of being with 2 very positive and very giving people. You were super!”
15. “I love the variety in the sessions. The students really have picked up on the terms and are using them. There have been attempts at assertive behaviour from ‘sometimes passive’ people. There are less ‘stories’ and students are working well together. If they do come to me with something I feel they can work out, I send them away to use their conflict resolution skills. Nearly every time this works.”
16. “Students are more willing to identify conflicts and work together to solve them – more listening/talking, taking time out to keep/stay calm before they negotiate. It’s interesting to hear students verbalise what is happening – able to use practical strategies to solve conflict e.g, staying centred, active listening and working towards a win/win.”
17. “One student who is trying to control her temper has gained valuable insight from the sessions and has opened up to me about her concerns. The sessions were well prepared and were lots of fun. The students enjoyed them and I’m sure gained valuable tactics for the rest of their lives. Many thanks for a job well done.”
18. “Students did not always recognise what a conflict was and therefore did not use strategies to handle the conflict. They are now more aware of a conflict and their part in it. Some students have been able to use strategies to help themselves and the conflicts they are in. Some students act more confidently than before whilst others are able to see some behaviours for what they are. This has been a very worthwhile course for students to unpack and look at themselves and other students’ behaviours. Thank you both for your expertise and commitment.”
19. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the course myself. It has given me strategies to use myself and to remind the students to also use.”
20. “Children are not as aggressive in the playground. Continual offenders are not appearing as often on detention. Less swearing. It is a great program with wonderful examples, role-plays and great strategies for dealing with anger.”
21. “I believe this program will have a significant impact on student behaviour.”
22. “Clare and Maureen you developed a great rapport with the kids and they enjoyed your presentations and looked forward to seeing you each week. I’d like to see annual follow up course for all students after initial course for all children and teachers.”
23. “Students are more willing to discuss contributing behaviours to issues in an unemotional way. They are more willing to participate in finding positive solutions to problems.”
24. “We have a strong ‘boy culture’ in our school with children having fairly entrenched poor conflict resolution skills. I feel most students are now aware of possible options for resolving conflicts.”
25. “It has given teachers a common language and a common approach to conflict resolution.”
26. “Children didn’t think about the process involved in conflict and their resolution before the course-they just reacted. Now they seem more willing to resolve conflicts harmoniously. One boy thinks about win/win as a habitual behaviour and was heard say, ‘ Come on let’s see the positive in this. Let’s get to a win/win’. There were plenty of ideas and strategies to develop. It was very interesting-great fun and great tutors!!”
27. “I have learnt strategies that will help me cope with stressful or difficult situations in my own life. I have learnt a lot professionally and personally.”
28. “Students are more amenable to resolving conflict by discussion and negotiation. It is a very valuable course and should be in place in every Primary School with a refresher in Year 7.”
29. “I am hearing very positive comments from Year 9 teachers that students are now taking time to think before reacting and that their groups are more settled.”
30. “I see certain students at least hesitating and relaxing more about tense situations. Students have changed their attitude towards me in other classes, for instance, I have asked students how they are feeling and what could be causing an upset in class. I also let them know how their behaviour makes me feel. Many have responded positively, apologised and reflected on their behaviour. Even though students still exhibit negative habits, at least now they are aware of certain skills they can use. It may not be immediately that these skills are used, however I strongly believe that for many students this course has helped begin a process of change from within. I feel this course should be introduced widely in the school curriculum. Students need to refine their social skills and learn to relate to one another in a positive manner. This course provides education for real life-it’s a real necessity.”
31. “Some students have become more willing to listen to the other’s point of view, discuss the problem and try to solve conflicts positively rather than behaviours such as physically fighting, verbally abusing, bullying, blackmailing or ignoring the problem hoping it would go away. Fewer conflicts have been brought to my attention and some of the terms used in the course have been used in student’s everyday conversation. It has been a most worthwhile 9 weeks.”
32. “The girls have become more assertive as have some boys. The boys have become better listeners and are more willing to compromise than in the past. And we have observed a lot of change in some students.”
33. “Students are aware that it’s better to resolve conflicts than antagonise or prolong them unnecessarily. The course had a far ranging effect on the students and made them think about conflict in a profound way as evidenced by their responses in the sessions.”
34. “Two girls who always argued now talk their differences over. I feel this course has been extremely beneficial and the children have gained very worthwhile skills. They are able to talk to each other – better listeners they don’t verbally abuse. They have the skills to solve problems.” |
