Proclaiming The Week of October 15th 2007 as "Conflict Resolution Week."

The City Council of Philadelphia designates the Week of October 15th 2007 as “Conflict Resolution Week” in Philadelphia and encourages that all take proactive steps to ensure that every one is aware of the importance of decreasing violence in schools and communities by resolving conflicts in ways other than violence.

WHEREAS, Every day this week students from kindergarten through 12th grade will be asked an "essential question of the day." Then, they will write their responses in a journal. They also will be asked to take the lessons home, and talking to family members about each day's topic; and

WHEREAS, The entire week shall be used to teach students how to peacefully resolve conflicts in school and in their communities; and

WHEREAS, On Monday, they were asked to define "good character”; and

WHEREAS, On Tuesday, they identified “random acts of kindness" and wrote about the impact of such acts on society; and

WHEREAS, On Wednesday, they were asked to write about what causes stress in their lives and how they deal with it; and

WHEREAS, On Thursday, they will write about the things that cause them anger and compile a list of ways to confront, overcome and diminish that anger and conflict; and

WHEREAS, Then, on Friday, students will receive a classroom lesson on conflict resolution or anger management. They will also be asked to reflect on the previous four days' assignments; and

WHEREAS, One week of highlighting conflict resolution in our schools may not mitigate the potential of students choosing violence. However, the burden is on those of us who work on behalf of students to give them tools to resolve conflicts peacefully; and

WHEREAS, Resources for teachers and strategies for anger management will be placed on the Philadelphia School District’s website; and

WHEREAS, The week’s activities may not end violence; but they will equip students of all ages with constructive strategies for intervention; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Week of October 15th 2007 be designated as “Conflict Resolution Week” in Philadelphia and encourages that all take proactive steps to ensure that every one is aware of the importance of decreasing violence in schools and communities by resolving conflicts in ways other than violence.

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