attendance initiatives in schools

Although community schools in the United States are limited in number, lessons can be gleaned from some successful initiatives throughout the country. • Each community school needs a strong academic program at its center, no matter how ... and summary | www.americanprogress.org 1 ment, school attendance, and parent involvement.1 Yet community schools differ greatly in the type of services they provide and how much those services are integrated with academic instruction. ...Virtually all the increase of 300000 students over the previous year came at two-year schools, while attendance at four-year schools remained flat. Community colleges almost certainly saw attendance go up at least that much again this ...Key to our commonwealth (our parks, schools, collective rights and property) is our responsibility as Citizens to exercise our ownership rights. If we fail now, we will have nothing left but rents to pay and slave jobs to beg for. ...“We are pleased to have received this recognition,” said Joshua Hahn, assistant head of the school and director of environmental initiatives. “Purchasing green power is an important component of helping Hotchkiss to become more ...Virtually all the increase of 300000 students over the previous year came at two-year schools, while attendance at four-year schools remained flat. Community colleges almost certainly saw attendance go up at least that much again this ... The House responded last month by passing a student aid bill that included about $10 billion in initiatives directly focused on community colleges. The Senate has not yet taken up the proposal. Report Abuse; Send To Friend; Print Article ...The Ministry of Education's 2010 Spirit Schools program “allows schools to show BC and the world the amazing 2010-related activities that students are engaged in.” Critics argue that these initiatives provide little room for a deeper ...Georgia is the next stop on Jeb Bush's national education tour. He'll be in Atlanta tomorrow, hosting an education reform symposium with Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and talking up the school reform initiatives he led in Florida. ...based math programs in the elementary schools and lend further support to the ongoing emphasis on differentiated instruction and literacy across the content area initiatives in the secondary schools. ...Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition come as recognition for a school's effective PBIS initiatives. The schools received recognition for their outstanding PBIS programs during a ceremony held at Wor-Wic Community College at the 2009 PBIS ...SINGAPORE: The Education Ministry will review initiatives aimed at getting students to stay in school. It said more will be done to help the schools keep their drop-out rate low.
Some educators debate whether to add an hour to school each day to allow high school students can have two fifteen-minute break and longer lunch breaks. Some educators like this idea because they think giving students more break during the day will help them to be more alert in class. Other educators do not like this idea because they think a longer school day will only make students more tired and less able to concentrate on their work. Schools usually have one full period to allow students to have a lunch and study hall, for the first half students will be able to have a study hall and/or lunch for half the period and then go to lunch and/or study hall. Some students believe that if they had two fifteen-minute they would be able to do homework that is incomplete for a later class and/or they would be able to go to teachers for extra help if they are available. Students use study halls to do work or just relax for a period. I believe that students should just have one break and that’s for a lunch/study; if students had two fifteen-minute breaks in the day they would as some educators believe “slack off” and lose concentration due to students interactions during these breaks.

Some educators believe that the breaks would better to help students be more energized during the day helping them concentrate better during the day. The Waterloo Region District School Board has begun making these changes in elementary schools to help better figure out if what they are doing is really helping the kids in a way that helps them do better in the following fields academic performance, having a balanced nutrition, increased physical activity, time for learning during the school day, and literacy program that provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to fine-tune the literacy initiative that they have been developing for a number of years. They have found that there is an increase in all these fields due to the extra breaks during the school day. They are now developing a plan to make this act possible in the High Schools in the county.

President Obama has even stated that longer school days would help to increase learning capabilities in all students K-12. Some parents and educators find this a bad idea due to the lack of time actually spent on school work during the school day. Some parents also believe that if students had extracurricular activities after school that would extended into the night making the children unable to do homework and sleep after school. Instead the educators who presented this act to add an hour would find something much more serious going on than lack of sleep. With students who don’t sleep more than 9 hours at night have been found to lack energy during the school day and are found in the lower 10-15% of their class. While this is only a problem with kids on a regular school day results have shown that due to an increase in the school day; high schoolers have no decreased in attendance and school work is not being completed on time or not at all.

As for my opinion I believe that schools should not be extended due to lack of sleep and time after school to finish any work that may come along. Students don’t need an extra break if they did they would take a study hall to help them prepare for tests and do any homework from other classes as well as get help from other teachers. There are breaks during the normal school day which is called passing period high school kids are able to talk to other students and use the restroom and drinking fountain if needed during the day. We don’t need any extended time to where we can just fool around and hang with friends plus a normal school day allows student to go to appointments after school where as if u had the extended school day offices would be closed and students would have to go during school which interrupts their learning during the school day.

We can see both sides have strong arguments in with they provide detail about why the school day should be increased or not be increased and left it the same and what effects it would hold on students throughout the next 4 years of high school. Facts have been given and arguments have been made, some found this to be insightful (useful) information about an increase in the normal school day for students. Others found it to be useless facts upon useless facts about extending the school day. I believe that the same school hours should be kept in all schools not just the one I go to. Facts have shown that with extended school hours come dire consequences for students in the future.


I posted that I am looking for an office assistant job on craigslist and someone responded to my post but I think its a scam:


ABC Lakeside Painting
7532 Lakeshore Road
Derby, NY 14047
Website:www.abclakesidepainting.com


Better Business Bureau Registered.
BBB ID: 182727630
Job ID 21300706-2


Company Name:ABC Lakeside Painting
Job Category: Customer Service
Location:Online
Office: Online.
Position Type: Full-Time/ Part Time.
Experience: 0-1 Years Experience
Salary: 25$ PER HR.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Receive, edit, and process incoming customer telephone, email, and faxed orders in a timely manner.
Enter both customer requests and the completion information of those requests into an order processing system with minimal errors.
Receive, evaluate, and answer customer and sales issues, inquires, and correspondence in a timely manner, including product feature, price and shipping information.
Support and resolve customer inquiries, including Return Authorizations, Repair Authorizations, requests for catalogs, and provide follow-up to assure satisfaction.
Ensure correct entry of price, shipping and other key information for products timely and accurate shipment.
Answer internal and external customer telephone calls both at the customer service desk and rotation at the switchboard, routing calls as necessary with some overhead paging.
Assist with Reception coverage for lunch, break and absences.
Print, fold and apply postage to invoices and statements.
Complete catalog and literature mailing to include cover letter, envelopes and postage.
Maintain accurate customer files.
Maintain supply cabinet including ordering office and printer supplies as needed.
Qualifications:
Required
High school diploma or GED
Two years experience in customer service.
Demonstrate excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to work independently, and initiative.
Excellent verbal and written skills in the English language.
Typing 35 WPM.
Ability to use a standard email system such as Lotus Notes or MS Outlook including calendar management and updating database properties.
Excellent attendance record including job stability.
Ability to use the Microsoft Office Suite including Access, basic internet knowledge and order entry experience.
Ability to sit for up to three hours at a time without an extended break.

After Review of your Resume on www.craigslist.org

. We have come to the conclusion that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle this job position.An Interview has been scheduled for you,it would hold Today THURSDAY MAY 28TH 2009 by 3PM New York Time (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).The Interview would be conducted online through YAHOO INSTANT MESSAGING.You are advised to download a yahoo messenger and add Ms..Farrah E. Willes (Owner).This is her yahoo id.....abclakesidepainting
Make sure you add her to your messenger and you are online for the Interview by 3 PM New York Time.

This is an online job so all your assignments would be forwarded to you and submitted back by either fax, regular mail, email, phone or IM
(instant messaging).
All activities and corresponding time are to be recorded in excel
spreadsheet. Thats how we access your work and process your pay.

RECRUITMENT OFFICE.
I did not post any type of personal info on craigslist nor to this "company"


I would run as an independent with my own party.Tell me if you are republican, democrat, or independent?These are just some of my ideas…I am 16 years old but I want to pursue a career in politics.

I want to create opportunities for small businesses with a new program that I would call “The Small Business Bond Program” where I would allow average citizens to lend money to the government which would then be lent to small businesses and entrepreneurs. In return citizens will receive their money back with interest. This is a two way investment. It betters the state’s economy and allows the lender to make a secure investment.
I would set a flat property tax of 4% on all homes with a value of $2 million or less and a tax of 6% on houses whose value equals more than $2 million. For international companies (including companies that had previously left the US) that come to my state I would set their property tax to 0.3% of their total annual earnings. When it comes to sales tax I would create a sales tax holiday lasting the whole month of December where no sales tax is paid.
This applies to taxes and education so I am placing it in between. I would create a program where students who graduate college/apprenticeship for example between (2009-2013) can receive a $1500 bonus after they graduate.
On education I would focus on laws to strengthen school attendance. I would also make sure that all public school teachers go through state tests every four years to test their knowledge in their respective field. I also want an increase of $2000 for all teachers, firefighters, police, etc. I would make a program to work with a private internet service provider to make sure that all schools in New York have access to the internet. I would make sure that every student has access to textbooks. I am also a believer in vouchers for students wishing to attend alternative schools. There also needs to be legislation over cell phones in school. In my studies I have noticed that it plays a huge part in distracting students from school work. Parents must also take the initiative and make sure their children can receive the help they need (this means shutting of the video games). I also want local workshops paid by the government where students can go to and get tutoring free of charge by college students in certain fields(mathematics,literature). This could count as work study for college students while at the same time prepping elementary and high school kids.

When it comes to social issues I believe in civil unions for consenting adults but hold the belief that marriage is a religious ceremony. On abortion I think that the number of abortions should be lowered as I disagree with it. I would do that by creating programs to aid mothers morally and financially during their birth and 1 year later, during which they must find a job or prove that they are attending school of some type. I also support legislation where hospitals and clinics must educate the mother about the abortion process and its side-effects before practicing it through visual demonstrations, etc.


Like disco lemonade, here I am. Unique, complicated, funky and sweet. I am an independent thinker who loves a good debate. I am a tree-hugger who appreciates nature. I am an intellectual who enjoys reading Hobbes and Shakespeare as well as Dr. Seuss. I am a high school senior who is ready for the next four years of her life as a college student. My family has always been very close to me and they have directly shaped my dreams and aspirations. My mother was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and my father in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Like most immigrants they came to the United States with no money in their pockets, but dreams in their hearts.
My parents met each other in high school. My dad had already graduated and was in college when my mom discovered she was pregnant with my brother. She dropped out of school and my dad dropped out of college to get a job. For the next eight years he worked for an auto-body shop doing whatever his boss asked him to for whatever his boss offered to pay. My mom on the other hand found her niche as a Registered Dental Assistant. She found a good paying job because of her talent. My parents went from living in a one-bedroom house with about four other families to owning their own home; eventually, homes. My sister was born in 1998 and two years later our family found their way to Salinas, California where they bought a small business that they now own and operate independently.
I admire my parents for their hard work and perseverance; it makes me think to myself, “How can I not succeed?” I have been offered so many more opportunities in my life than they were offered in theirs and to not take advantage of those opportunities would be outrageous. My parents read to me every night when I was a child. They encouraged me to read on my own when I was older. I maintained perfect attendance records throughout elementary school and beyond. Education has always been the most important thing in my parents’ eyes. However, it has also been important to them that I become my own person and not a clone of them or anyone else. My parents influenced my creativity and individuality. They allowed me to take up such hobbies as gymnastics, piano and tennis among many others. This helped me to decide what I liked and what I didn’t. Another important aspect of how my parents raised me is they never instilled their own political or religious beliefs in me. They wanted me to discover on my own what I believed in and they always let me research things on my own. Be it by reading Wiccan books to attending Catholic mass; watching CNN or Fox news. The way my parents raised me has influenced much of what I will do with my life after high school.
I intend on entering college this fall with an undeclared major. I have many interests but I am especially interested in working with either young children, animals or the environment. I know that with the degree I will earn from a University of California, I will improve the lives of people in my community and beyond. I am well-prepared for the coursework required to maintain good grades in college. I am aware that I haven’t always had the best grades in high school and I accept full responsibility for that but if given the chance, I am confident that I can do better in college. I have far more potential than what is featured on my high school transcripts. I am the type of person who takes the initiative when it comes to my learning; I am dedicated and self-motivated.
Curious, yet timid. Open-minded, yet strong-willed. I am well-mannered but free-spirited. My family has encouraged these qualities in me. They have given me countless opportunities to think for myself, and learn through experience. They have shaped and molded me and my values. My parents have stressed the importance of education in me from the time I was born. They have worked hard to ensure that the option of continuing my education after high school was available. I know that a four-year university is the right option for me.
I’m not this, I’m not that and I’m nowhere in between, but as Frankie Valli once sang, “Conventionality belongs to yesterday.” I have learned to walk through a room full of noes with grace and confidence. I have brains in my head. I have feet in my shoes. I can steer myself in any direction I choose. My name is Jasmin Ramirez. I am seventeen years old and I hope the world is as ready for me as I am ready for the world.
yeah i just never had it proofread :) and i am still waiting on ucsb. oh and thank you :)


This is my first draft any help would be appreciated

Personal Information

D.O.B–16/09/91
Birth Place–Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Gender-Female

Profile

I am a self motivated 17yr old who is versatile, hardworking andorganizedd, who always is trying to continuously improve to achieve the best results.
I show initiative when things need to be completed, and torealizee personal goals and ambitions. I enjoy working in a team but I can also be a leader. I have good communication skills, always enthusiastic and sociable.
Dedication and loyalty are my main contribution to my peers.
I am computer literate and I have good knowledge on windows and the internet.


Proficiencies

.If anything needs to be done I will complete it to high standards
.I am trust worthy and reliable person
.good attendance and punctual at all time
.I’m outgoing and can talk to customers with ease
.I have good knowledge in computer work such as excel.
. I’m Hardworking andorganizedd.


Education

2004-2008

Ricards Lodge High School, Lake Road, Wimbledon SW19 7HB
Phone 020 8946 2208

Hobbies

.Reading
.Fashion
.Acting
.Exercise
.Video Games
.Basketball



Like for example, most of them make you buy the text book. They are like "Oh I understand that it costs practically as much as a car, but you need to by the book anyway".......If they truly understood, they would say 'don't worry about buying the book, you won't need it for this class.'

& sometimes they go out of their way to prevent people from cheating on exams.........
Ok, if people were that dishonest they wouldn't be in school......they would lie on their resume can claim they graduated.
It's annoying that they don't trust students who take the initiative to be in school.
& if they want to cheat, that's their loss; not the professor's. The students are the ones paying thousands of this education; let them choose how they utilize it.

& why is it that students even as adults in college are still treated like children? Quite often, professors make attendance mandatory. Legal adults do not need to be told what to do, especially when they are the paying customer who's spending thousands of dollars to be there.

So why don't these human being teachers have hearts?
"To help you learn" I suppose? There are so many classes people are required to take that have nothing to do with their major; it's not like they need to know that information.


Eri: 3. "everyone's loss when a doctor gets a degree who hasn't learned anything".....
I'm not referring to people whose job it is to save lives. I'm referring to maybe a business major, or something like that. Just because they are not good test takers doesn't mean they wouldn't make good professional employees.


I am using this personal statement to get into college what do you think of it-(is it well written and convincing?) Can I add anything to it to make it better?

At school I am studying for my GCSE’s in English, English literature, Maths- higher, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Media studies, Sociology and Drama. In addition I am doing a junior sports leadership award. I think that the GCSE’s I have chosen have a wide range of subjects which I think is a good idea as I will have a wide range of knowledge at the end of my GCSE’s. I enjoy all of my school subjects especially biology, chemistry and maths which I am hoping to study next year at sixth form or college. At school I am predicted A’s and A* in all my subjects as well as this I am continually punctual and have a very good attendance rate.

I am a very friendly person and I like to talk to new people as well as people I already know because I think it is important to have a wide range of friends. I am also quite confident as I am able to communicate well with people of all ages which is very important in a school environment. I would also say that I am very sociable as I enjoy going out and meeting new people, although I understand the importance of studying and I wouldn’t let that get in the way of my school work. My experiences of my studies at Burntwood have lead me to become more independent, organised and self disciplined which I know will aid me when I go on th study at sixth form or college.


In my free time I like to go swimming I also enjoy playing tennis, badminton and occasionally netball. As well as that I attended tooting gymnastics club for 6 years and I took park in many classes including sports acrobatics. By the time I had left I had moved into the squad which is the most advanced group. I enjoyed it because I made many friends, who I would like to continue to be friends with even though I have left. I also enjoyed it because I learned many new skills and I like to learn new things. I think that it has helped me to listen to instructions because at gymnastics you need to listen to instructions to be safe. I also appeared in many displays held at our club it was here where I learned the importance of dedication and how to work effectively under pressure.

In the summer I did work experience in the Lacoste boutique in Regent Street which I truly enjoyed as I learned more independence, I also feel as though I have become more mature since working in an adult working environment. I had an interview before being accepted into my work experience and I was very pleased with myself when the Retail Director, Richard Potzesny said that they were going to accept me. I also learned how to use my initiative more, as in the shop it gets quite busy and most of the time I found myself working alone. I feel that I also taught me how to learn quickly because as the brand was French I had to learn sizing- which was different for women, men and children’s wear. I felt very proud of myself when the manager of the store said that if there were places available next year (when I’m old enough) then they would take me on to work in the summer.

At school I have been involved in many activities including a French residential, a trip to the theatre and another trip to Hampton Court Palace. I am currently on the stage crew for the upcoming production of Bugsy Malone I have taken part in this because I want to learn more about behind the scenes in a drama production. As well as this I am doing a qualification in junior sports leadership, in it you learn how to teach children younger than yourself sport. This has taught me to become more confident when talking to people, as well as being clear in giving instructions. It means that I can get on with people younger than myself well. Within the JSLA course I have taught at junior sports hall as well as running my own swimming gala as part of a team. We are currently working on a football tournament which we will hold at our school. I enjoy these activities because not only do I learn how to get on with children of different ages but also I am working in a team which I really love doing, although I am capable of working alone. At school I am a prefect which is a role I take seriously; this is because I think it is very important to show younger years how they should behave.


CLREP Welcomes You!

Peer Conflict Mediation
School Conflict Mediation
Background
Getting Started
The CLREP Mediation Model
How Does The Mediation Process Work?
Peer Conflict Mediation Objectives

School Conflict Mediation
In our education and school systems today, every teacher must play many different roles, the most obvious being that of instructor with a solid background in a chosen field. Unfortunately, one of the roles that teachers must also assume is that of behavioral manager and disciplinarian. Misbehavior, disruptive behavior and student conflict demand much of our teachers' time. These interruptions rob students of the kind of learning environment conducive to achievement and steal instructional time from teachers. The problem is not new. In recent years, some thoughtful and innovative methods for dealing with school conflict have come into existence and are having remarkable success. One program that has made great strides in minimizing student conflict is Peer Conflict Mediation and Resolution. The concept is deceptively simple: students act as mediators in the resolution of conflicts between their own classmates. Informal methods of having peers confront and resolve conflict have been used with success by individual teachers for some time. The idea of a formal, school-wide peer mediation program is, however, somewhat innovative. What is it about mediation that makes it so popular and successful? In traditional reaction to student conflict, arbitrary and punitive solutions were often used to solve conflict. For example, if two students were involved in a fight, they typically would be sent to an administrator for disciplinary action. Suspensions would be likely (which are recorded on students' permanent records), parents would be summoned, and perhaps further punishment would be meted out. After suspensions, students often return bitter, angry, bent on revenge and, worse yet, days behind in their classwork. In mediation, suspensions for misconduct are the last resort, and many conflicts are resolved through mutually agreeable solutions rather than punishment. Although mediation is not, nor is it intended to be, a panacea for all conflicts, it can be used effectively with a variety of controversies.
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Background
School Conflict Mediation is an outgrowth of the neighborhood Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs which came into existence in the mid 1970s to help community members seek solutions to problems aside from formal court proceedings. Today, ADR programs are active in most major American cities and other advocates include members of the judiciary, law enforcement officers, and community leaders who act as the primary agents in resolving diverse conflict. This "court of first resort" has had great success. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, mediation programs found their way into school systems in southern California, Hawaii and New York. The University of Southern California aided in establishing programs aimed at reducing gang violence. Many people were surprised with the success that trained gang leaders were having in mediating problems without violence and reducing the number of students injured due to violence in school settings. The key to the success of school mediation is an increased feeling that students can make a difference and can control conflict and confrontation. As mediation programs are coming into being throughout our nation's school systems, educators are claiming that the 3 R's of education are now becoming the 4 Rs, i.e., "RESOLUTION" is coming into its own.
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Getting Started
Schools considering a peer conflict mediation initiative must first determine whether there is an interest and commitment to initiating such a project. Secondly, they must evaluate the most common conflicts seen in their school and determine if mediation can be used to resolve them. Once agreement is reached on the types of controversy that are appropriate for mediation, schools can contact CLREP and planning can begin for a school-based initiative. Once negotiations are complete, the initiative begins with introducing mediation to the student body at large. A variety of methods can be employed, such as guest speakers at student assemblies, question and answer sessions, or brochures and other printed material. One approach used during the pilot project was to introduce peer mediation via social studies classes with three classroom periods devoted to conflict and anger, communication, and the mediation process. Students who are interested in becoming mediators are then recruited and the training workshop is scheduled. The training itself emphasizes communication and questioning techniques, understanding anger and conflict, and role playing the mediation process. Once the training is complete and a mediation site in the school has been designated, the program is ready to be implemented. The impact of mediation is displayed in the positive reaction from schools and is having a profound effect on the lives of our young people. The benefits will be seen in years to come as the students of today take on the roles of adult citizens with the ability to resolve conflict in a non-adversarial manner.
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The CLREP Mediation Model
The Citizenship Law-Related Education Program of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Maryland State Department of Education developed Peer Mediation as a direct response to the stated needs of Maryland schools which requested an alternative to the traditional disciplinary methods. A great deal of preliminary research was done to find the common elements of other successful programs, which were then incorporated into the Maryland Model of Conflict Mediation. The Maryland Model incorporates these three key elements into all school based initiatives.
All students in the school are aware of the program as a viable alternative to traditional disciplinary sanctions.
Students who are selected as mediators represent a cross-section of the school's population. The mediators are not viewed as members of an elite club.
Teachers, administrators, students and parents are involved in the project's planning, training and implementation. This helps to enhance commitment and to ensure the success of the program.
Based upon our initial pilot project in 1991 and evaluation data gathered from participating schools since that time, the CLREP Peer Conflict Mediation model includes the following four phases:
Phase I: NEGOTIATION/PRE-PLANNING: School/sponsoring agency requests CLREP consultation to design an initiative.
Phase II: PLANNING AND ORIENTATION: Planning, information sharing and recruitment for school involvement.
Phase III: PEER MEDIATION TRAINING: Focus on understanding the importance of anger, conflict and communication in the mediation process. Mediation skill training for students and staff design of the specific school plan for implementation
Phase IV: IMPLEMENTATION: School implements Peer Mediation Initiative with CLREP technical assistance and follow-up consultation.
Each school-based initiative is designed to address the school's needs and requirements within this framework. For information on fees and initiating a project in your school or youth service agency call (410) 706-5360, fax (410) 706-5576 or e-mail us at info@clrep.org
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How Does the Mediation Process Work?
The actual mediation process involves a systematic approach to resolving conflicts. Regardless of the type of dispute, the mediation process applies a six-step method to reach agreement. The steps are:
The mediators set the ground rules.
The mediator asks each disputant to define the conflict and to express his or her feelings in a non-aggressive manner.
Each disputant states the problem.
The mediator restates and summarizes the information provided and asks questions to clarify issues.
The mediator then asks the disputants for a proposed solution to the problem and then restates the proposal. The mediator should avoid offering solutions.
When agreement is reached, a contract is written and signed by the disputants.
Conflict Mediation is not peer counseling, nor is it intended to be sensitivity training. It is critical that the mediator remain neutral in order to aid in the resolution process.
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Peer Conflict Mediation Objectives
The underlying and primary objectives of peer mediation are:
To increase student understanding that conflict is a natural and normal part of life. Physical confrontation is only one, and the least desirable, reaction to a conflict.
To enable students to work in harmony with each other despite differences.
To create a positive school climate by utilizing a process to resolve interpersonal conflict.
To avoid suspensions and expulsions from school by providing alternative methods of dealing with misbehavior.
To increase attendance and academic performance by decreasing the environment of conflict and violence.
To develop an awareness and encourage the use of compromise as a viable alternative to conflict and to relate this to a deeper understanding of the American political system.