Book Description
In too many American schools, each day brings the possibility of violence when students, teachers, or parents may be harassed, threatened, assaulted, or even killed. The Days of Respect program, developed by an experienced teacher and the Oakland Men's Project, speaks directly to young people's immediate need for recognition, participation, and respect. It brings students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the community together to create a schoolwide event on the theme of violence prevention. A part of the Making the Peace program, Days of Respect can be used as a follow-up or precursor to implementing the core curriculum -- or as a completely independent project. Its main purpose is to promote everyone's integrity, safety, and well-being so that the classroom environment can flourish. With this hands-on organizer's manual, all the tools and information needed to run an exciting and inspiring Days of Respect program are at your fingertips. Drawing on successful presentations in several schools, it includes ready-to-use outlines, timelines, handouts, agendas, training exercises, a guide for media outreach, as well as step-by-step instructions for staging the event -- from presenting the idea to parents and administrators, to conducting planning meetings and facilitation groups, to establishing ongoing campaigns in which students, teachers, and parents continue working together. By implementing this invaluable program and cultivating a schoolwide commitment to respectful behavior, the long, difficult process of resolving interpersonal conflicts, embracing individual differences, and making the peace can begin at least. Book jacket.
