Conflict Resolution Education: A middle school experience

The most influential time in a child's life is those few years in middle school, the ages between 11 and 14. Not only are these children going through massive physical changes, but they are also going through even greater mental and psychological adjustments as they learn how to be a member of a group while developing their own individuality. These young adolescents, who want respect, power, and love, also need new ways to handle their changing emotions and disputes with peers, teachers, and parents. In the aftermath of extremely public incidents of school violence such as the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and terror events of September 11th, the need for Conflict Resolution Education has increased exponentially in today's world. My research focuses on: the substantive need for comprehensive Conflict Resolution curriculum and developing a Conflict Resolution course for middle schoolers. These objectives shall be reached through the analysis of current Conflict Resolution Education programs and implementation of a Conflict Resolution course by the author in a local Washington, D.C. middle school.