The conflict-resolution technique of interpersonal negotiation involves five steps: (1) state your positive intentions; (2) define, analyze, and discuss the problem; (3) summarize progress; (4) explore alternative solutions; and (5) set a time for follow-up. (MLF)

This document provides witnesses' testimonies and prepared statements from a Congressional hearing on the roles of the federal government and of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office in preventing youth suicides. Opening statements are included from four Senate committee members and statements are given by the Assistant Secretary…

Peacekeeping strategies for school-board meetings include developing a code of conduct that spells out guidelines for behavior and then enforcing it; bringing in a neutral observer to help board members work through what is really worrying them; and concentrating on policy. (MLF)

School governance is not easy. Advice on keeping boards harmonious includes: don't keep secrets; trust your colleagues; watch out for mavericks; and set some rules-and follow them. A sidebar lists strategies for success. (MLF)

Constructive strategies to pursue in cases of opposition to an established school board policy include the following: (1) persuade colleagues to consult with the board attorney; (2) share sources of information; (3) confine comments to the issues; (4) ask tough questions; and (5) work to get better board members. (MLF)

Arbitration is an effective way to resolve disagreements between school systems and their employee unions. A practicing arbitrator offers some suggestions that encourage the best use of the arbitration process. (MLF)

Discusses conceptual models of thought that have recently emerged to confront the conventional approaches to analysis and solution to complex environmental problems. In addition to a critical attack on the tradition of specialization and reductionism, several models are summarized that originated from ecology, cybernetics, and system theory. (BC)

When the National Commission on Excellence in Education published "A Nation at Risk" (1983) in response to the perception that the U.S. public education system was failing to help students succeed, it gave policymakers the catalyst to introduce legislative and regulatory reforms that were designed to increase student achievement. Through such…

The evaluation of employee assistance program (EAP) providers was designed to provide information necessary to the selection of an EAP provider for the Saint Louis Public Schools, Missouri. The most widely recognized functions of an EAP are to provide a confidential consultation to individuals with personal problems and to serve as a management…

Multicultural education, anti-racist education, and conflict resolution are curriculum-based approaches to reducing racial conflict. Since the 1930s, attempts have been made to develop curricula to change negative racial attitudes and encourage appreciation for people of all races. In the 1980s, multicultural education has focused on the unique…

Education, the most visible of local government functions, is often the center of a societal climate in which the protection of individual rights is not only expected but also demanded. Governing boards and administrators must deal with conflict and bring about acceptable solutions. Since 1950 education has experienced a significant increase in…

This manual presents a collaborative "situational negotiations" approach to collective bargaining. After a brief introduction, part 1 describes the traditional adversarial bargaining model, using a case study from a medium-sized school district in the state of Washington to illustrate how the aftermath of confrontational bargaining is…

The challenge for the college governing board is to use the assets of the institution's known past as a foundation for planning for the largely unknown future. They must handle the difficult tasks of replacing a president, responding to legitimate new demands, and avoiding institutional stagnation. (MSE)

Preventing high school violence takes more than security measures alone. Problem-solving approaches involve skill-building strategies that teach students conflict-resolution skills that become alternatives to the use of violence. Peace-making strategies seek to improve school climate by targeting key relationships in the school. Lists eight steps…

This manual presents a proposal to reduce arbitration or negotiation impasses and to accommodate conflicting interests by selecting a permanent neutral to monitor labor relations both during the term of the agreement and during contract negotiations. Part 1 describes the role of the permanent neutral during the term of the collective bargaining…