The Effects of Conflict Management on Elementary Discipline
Recess provides students with an opportunity to make individual choices that enable them to share and interact with one another using verbal and non­verbal communication. With this type freedom, not everyone may agree at all times. This non-agreement could lead to negative behaviors and as a result the amount of discipline events on campus could increase. If students are educated in peer mediation techniques, they could independently solve school ground conflicts. Will a conflict management program help decrease the amount of discipline events on campus? This study identified (a) type of conflicts among peers, (b) effectiveness of a conflict management program, and (c) developmental aspects and limitations at one site. The overall significance of the study was that it found that discipline events decreased with the introduction of the conflict management program. The sample consisted of one rural elementary school and compared records over two years. Recommendations for future research have been proposed at the conclusion of the study.
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