BURBANK PROGRAM TO HELP TEACH YOUTHS CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS.Byline: Mary Lou Aurelio Daily News Staff Writer In the aftermath of the Colorado school tragedy, Burbank officials are working on a citywide conflict mediation mediation, in law, type of intervention in which the disputing parties accept the offer of a third party to recommend a solution for their controversy. Mediation has long been a part of international law, frequently involving the use of an international commission, plan to help reach youngsters who feel disenfranchised and need help from adults. ``The mayor's youth task force is really looking at youth in general and at the unmet un·met adj. Not satisfied or fulfilled: unmet demands. needs of kids in the community,'' said Superintendent David Aponik, a member of Mayor Dave Golonski's youth task force. ``For example, what can adults do to make kids feel involved?'' He said the group met Tuesday for a brainstorming session and plans to meet again later this month. ``We're taking a look at conflict resolution programs and we'll nail it down from the top five,'' Aponik said. ``Then we'll do a teacher training, so we make sure we're not just jamming things down people's throats.'' He said the citywide program will be designed to work in all schools, public, private and parochial pa·ro·chi·al adj. 1. Of, relating to, supported by, or located in a parish. 2. Of or relating to parochial schools. 3. , and in city Department of Parks programs, the YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. and the Boys & Girls Clubs Girls Club is a 2002 American television series created by David E. Kelley, who was also it's producer and executive producer. Only two out of a total of thirteen episodes created were broadcast on Fox Television in the United States and Global Television in Canada. . ``We want to be sure we're all reading from the same page,'' Aponik said. Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, also on the task force, said it is important ``to reach the kids who are falling through the cracks,'' especially those from households where both parents work away from the home. Murphy said the Colorado tragedy was a reminder that families sometimes need help. ``It's horrifying, but put every constraint Constraint A restriction on the natural degrees of freedom of a system. If n and m are the numbers of the natural and actual degrees of freedom, the difference n - m is the number of constraints. in you want at a school and it could still happen,'' Murphy said. Marissa Rosoff, Burbank schools safety coordinator and task force member, said the group reviewed a variety of 23 different conflict resolution programs. Some are now used in city schools and some were suggested by the state Board of Education, with titles such as Peacebuilders and Keeping the Peace. ``We'll see what will fit with our community, but the idea is to teach kids problem-solving techniques. Listening skills, communicating clearly, issues of diversity, issues of bullies are major component,'' Rosoff said. ``How do you deal with a bully? How do you deal with name calling? We want a program that makes sense to kids,'' she said. Parent involvement also is being sought, she said. Aponik said the key will be for adults to ``watch for those students who are disenfranchised, lonely . . . suicidal su·i·cid·al adj. 1. Of or relating to suicide. 2. Likely to attempt suicide. or threatening.'' He said that should be met with an assertive as·ser·tive adj. Inclined to bold or confident assertion; aggressively self-assured. as·ser  tive·ly adv. intervention.
``We need to actively engage these kids in dialogue, and their parents, and get the police involved if necessary,'' Aponik said. |
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