Organizational intersections are temporary systems formed when organizational members become interdependent with members in other organizations. The effectiveness of organizational intersections was an important issue for those participating in the Documentation and Technical Assistance in Urban Schools (DTA) Project. Consultants who participated…

Four hypotheses pertaining to conflict and its resolution in the team sport experience among seven Choctaw communities were tested: Choctaws have a unique conception of conflict vis-a-vis Anglos; this conception has a limiting effect on the exercise or occurrence of more dramatic forms of violence; this notion is reflected in Choctaw team sport…

Both popular and academic perceptions of conflict have been historically negative. Conflict, however, or the discrepancy between the demands of the environment and the demands of a living system, is common to individuals, groups, organizations and societies, and is part of the communication process by which living things interact with their…

Strategies for teaching couples how to solve their marital problems more effectively is an important part of a social learning or behaviorial approach. Couples need to possess and implement certain problem-solving skills not typically present in the repertoires of distressed couples. (Author)

This simulation can be used to help secondary students examine the national and global energy issue. Students role-play various groups, including the Departments of Energy and Transportation, the U.S. Automobile Manufacturer's Association, oil lobby groups, conservation groups, citizen groups, a solar lobbying organization, and a nuclear power…

In this simulation, which involves the location of a low-income housing project, secondary students simulate eight roles--citizens representing the interests of seven different neighborhoods and a federal arbiter. Skills developed by the simulation include analysis, decision making, and oral and written communication. (RM)

The Rating Ethical Content System (RECS) was developed for adults, but the question remains whether children can recognize moral themes in media with the same competency as adults. The current study aims to test a modified version of the existing scale (RECS-K) for use by children in order to determine whether children can recognize ethical…

This article provides results about a high school's support for its peer mediation program and the effectiveness of that program. The four subject groups surveyed included faculty, students in eight home room classes, trained student mediators, and students who had used the program to resolve an interpersonal conflict. Individuals directly…

This book's 14 chapters provide models of conflict management and practical guidance for those working in institutions of higher education. The chapters are: (1) "What's It All About? Conflict in Academia" (Susan A. Holton); (2) "Administration in an Age of Conflict" (Gerald Graff); (3) "The Janus Syndrome: Managing Conflict from the Middle"…

This paper discusses alternatives to court litigation in special education disputes between schools and parents of students with disabilities. It begins by describing problems with the current hearing process and dispelling myths about alternative dispute resolutions (ADR). The advantages and disadvantages of mediation are then outlined, along…

Designed for parents of students with disabilities living in Oregon, this brochure describes the general mediation process that parents can use to resolve special education services disputes with schools. It begins by discussing what mediation is and the characteristics of a trained mediator. It addresses the requirement for making mediation…

This paper examines nine school-based peer mediation and conflict resolution projects supported by four state health departments, describing differences in targeted students, project consultants, teacher and student training, teaching methods, curriculum content, mediation format, complementary strategies, project cost, and project evaluation. (SM)

Reports on a study examining the power of the open classroom meeting. Participants indicated that open meetings increased the ability of students to relate to others, to listen, to communicate feelings, and to solve problems. Significant implications for the role of the school counselor in such meetings are explored. (RJM)

This article describes a tense situation in which two middle school teachers had a fight in a public area on parent conference day. Another teacher and an educational psychologist present their views on how to handle such a situation, support teachers, and foster collegiality. (SM)

Examines peace education at the elementary school level, stressing the need to include interpersonal and international relations when teaching peace. Suggests peace education can lead children to prosocial behavior. Sees peace as a positive of being. Urges the infusion of peace education throughout the elementary social studies curriculum. (CH)