The Pacific Path Program

1) Category:
General program

2) Issues Behind the Program:

Young people face conflicts every day. Often, the way they settle their conflicts is inadequate. Poorly settled conflicts result in hurtful words, provocation and hitting. Mariebourg (now the Pacific Path Institute), concerned by the rise in violence and anxious to promote peaceful behavior, created the Pacific Path program (preschool, primary and secondary) with the collaboration of certain school communities.

3) Objectives:
Help young people improve their relations with others as well as their understanding of themselves and others. Encourage young people to acquire skills in listening, critical thinking, oral communication and self-control. Help young people to acquire a better understanding of their conflicts as well as a greater ability to handle them. Teach conflict resolution and mediation as an effective means of preventing violence within the school environment and in the community. Recognize the ability of young people to solve their conflicts and to help them improve these skills. Make young people responsible for managing their own conflicts.

4) Environment:
Primary and secondary schools Families

5) Target Group:
Students from 4 to 17 years old

6) Key Words:
Pacific Path, coeuraction, school-family-community partnership, conflict, violence, peaceful conduct, Pacific Path Institute, Mariebourg, listening, critical thinking, oral expression, self-control, conflict management, mediation, anger, communication, empathy, self esteem, self-knowledge, search for solutions

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

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7) Description:
The Pacific Path is an interpersonal conflict resolution program which promotes peaceful behavior in preschool (aged 4 and 5), primary and secondary. There are two components: o 1st component: Conflict resolution

Students learn to solve conflicts through an array of workshops and nine themes: conflict, feelings, anger, communication, listening, empathy, selfesteem or self-knowledge, seeking solutions and conflict resolution. The 50-minute workshops are given every 2 to 3 weeks by homeroom teachers. This component prepares students to use mediation to resolve conflicts. There are several steps conducive to the success of the program: organization of the action taken by mediators, mediation awareness, the choice of mediators, mediator training, action and follow-up by mediators, and evaluation of the program.

2nd component: Peer mediation (primary level only)

An example of conditions essential for the success of the program: o o o o Selection of a member of the school staff to oversee the program; Support of the principal and staff members; Parent participation (continuity at home); Integration within the schools educational project.

8) Steps:
I. II. School team training by the Pacific Path Institute or a training partner. Registration for one of the training sessions provided by the Pacific Path Institute: o o III. The Pacific Path Institute offers training sessions for the program in preschool, primary and secondary levels (only upon request). Those interested can register one or several members of their school community. Their mandate is to start up and bolster the program.

Finding the pedagogical tools needed to lead implementation and, with time, to run the program independently. o It is also possible to have direct support from a Pacific Path Institute training consultant (association contract) in order to get the program up and running.

9) Activities/Actions:
Classroom workshops with the students (see the facilitation guides)

10) Resources Required:

Human resources: o Pacific Path Institute instructor (or partners recognized by the Pacific Path Institute)

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

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Financial resources: o Funds required for program presentation and for training, ranging from $50 for the former and $3200 for the latter for support for implementing Phase 2. There are a number of possibilities.

11) Roles of the Participants:

The training consultants: o move from school to school, upon request, to train the personnel involved in the program, support the person in charge of the project and attend coordination committee meetings. implements the program and gives the workshops.

The school team (teachers and school professionals): o

12) Scientific Basis or Validity:

In 1998, after four years of experimentation and evaluation, the program called Pacific Path was launched. It was evaluated by researchers from Universit de Montral. When applied in its totality, there clearly are worthwhile effects on the classroom environment and the school atmosphere: o The program helps prevent violence, encourages peaceful conflict resolution and reduces the number of incidences of violence, vandalism, absenteeism and suspensions. It helps students take responsibility for resolving their conflicts. As conflicts are resolved on an ongoing basis, this allows teachers to concentrate more on teaching rather than on discipline. The program improves communication between the staff, the principal, the students and the parents. It allows the school community (youth and adults) and the parents to rally around a common project.

o o

The great advantage for the students is the responsibility they learn to take for finding concrete solutions to violence. The program empowers them to play an active role in situations of conflict and to resolve them independently and peacefully. More specifically, this program: o gives students the prosocial skills they need to prevent and manage interpersonal conflicts in a healthy manner: listening, tolerance, critical thinking, self esteem, self-affirmation, etc. These attitudes and behaviors will serve them throughout life; allows students to experiment with conflicts in a positive way by relying on oral exchange rather than negative and unproductive behaviors. helps students be fairer in their interpretation of conflict situations; allows students to have a deeper understanding of themselves and others; encourages students to get involved socially and contributes to heightening their interest in resolving their conflicts fairly and with respect for others; allows students to heighten their sense of responsibility, self esteem, satisfaction and sense of achievement.

o o o o o

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

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13) Program Material:

Website: http://www.institutpacifique.com/en/home.php Preschool age 4: Facilitation guide, facilitation kit, posters, and story books Preschool age 5: Facilitation guide, facilitation kit, and posters Primary school, Phase 1 (conflict resolution): Facilitation guide, facilitation kit, and posters Primary school, Phase 2 (mediation): Facilitation guide and posters Secondary school: Facilitation guide Cycle One and Two, toolbox and posters Extra material is available. For further details, go to: http://www.institutpacifique.com/en/publications.php

14) Additional Information:

In 2005, 930 Qubec schools used this program. The program is known internationally and was recognized by UNESCO in 2001 for its contribution to promoting peaceful conduct. The information contained in this factsheet was taken from the Pacific Path program presentation document and from the following: o o http://www.institutpacifique.com/en/home.php ; http://www.ctreq.qc.ca/docs/activites/colloques-du-ctreq/colloque2004/696_fr.pdf.

15) Contacts:
Shirlane Day, Director General Pacific Path Institute 2901, boulevard Gouin Est Montral (Qubec) H2B 1Y3 Tel.: (514) 598-1522, ext. 223 Email: sday@institutpacifique.com Isabelle Boiss, Director, Program and Service Development Pacific Path Institute Tel.: (514) 598-1522, ext. 226 Email: iboisse@institutpacifique.com Ginette Vzina, Coordinator, Conflict Resolution Programs Pacific Path Institute Tel.: (514) 598-1522, ext. 260 Email: gvezina@institutpacifique.com General email: info@institutpacifique.com

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

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