January 12, 2009
WINTER 2009 DATES SET FOR FOUNDATION'S FREE TRAINING IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PEER MEDIATION AND CHARACTER EDUCATION
Conflict resolution, peer mediation and character education programs in New Jersey schools attract increased attention every day amid growing concerns about violence. Committed to the promotion of violence prevention, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation offers free training sessions in conflict resolution, peer mediation and character education for teachers, administrators and paraprofessionals.
All trainings are focused on the elementary and middle/high school levels and run one day each, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at the New Jersey Law Center off Ryders Lane in New Brunswick. Breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge.
Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Training
Registration is now being accepted for the Foundation's conflict resolution and peer mediation fall training sessions.
Elementary level (grades K-5) Conflict Resolution trainings are scheduled for Thursday, March 5.
Elementary level (grades 3-5) Peer Mediation training is being offered on Thursday, March 12.
Middle/high school level (grades 6-12) Conflict Resolution training takes place on Friday, February 13.
Middle/high school level (grades 6-12) Peer Mediation training is scheduled for Friday, March 27.
Please Note: Registrants should have an active conflict resolution program in their school in order to attend the peer mediation training programs.
The Conflict Resolution training sessions focus exclusively on conflict resolution techniques and how to utilize the curriculum guides provided by the Bar Foundation. The Peer Mediation trainings explain, among other things, how to implement and sustain a program in your school and how mediation has been proven to reduce incidents of school violence. Teachers who attend the entire day of training will receive professional development hours (Provider Number 1418).
Character Education Training
Registration is now being accepted for the Foundation's Character Education winter training sessions.
Middle/high school level (grades 6-12) Character Education trainings are set for Tuesday, January 27, and Tuesday, March 3.
Elementary level (grades K-5) Character Education trainings will be held on Wednesday, March 11.
The Bar Foundation's Character Education Training (formerly called Advanced Training in Conflict Resolution) is intended for those with a basic understanding of conflict resolution. The course is designed to build on the principles learned in the NJSBF's original Conflict Resolution training sessions and will allow participants to become familiar with the advanced, Volume II edition of the Bar Foundation's conflict resolution guides, which focus on character education. These guides include lessons on self-esteem, stereotypes, gender equality, honoring each other and related issues.
Space is limited. Please note that online or faxed registration is not available for these trainings. To register for any of the sessions, call 1-800 FREE LAW and request a registration form. All training sessions remain free of charge; however, a refundable $20 security deposit check, made payable to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, must accompany each registration.
Checks will be returned by mail to each attendee with his or her professional development certificate. Checks from registrants who do not give adequate notice of their inability to attend will be used to defray the expenses related to no-show registrants and therefore will be forfeited. Deposit checks will be returned to anyone who gives 72 hours' notice of his or her inability to attend.
Founded in 1958, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation is the educational and philanthropic arm of the New Jersey State Bar Association. The Bar Foundation's mission is to promote public understanding of the law through a free, comprehensive public education program. Among its activities, the Foundation, established in 1958, conducts seminars and conflict resolution training, publishes materials, operates a videotape loan library and speakers bureau, and coordinates elementary, middle and high school mock trial competitions. For more information about the Foundation's programs and publications, visit us online at www.njsbf.org or call 1-800-FREE-LAW.