By Grace Milton
On Thursday February 2nd, seventeen high school students participated in W.A.V.E. training. W.A.V.E. stands for working against violence everywhere. The goal is for the participants to become trained as leaders who will facilitate a program for sixth graders to promote pro-active social behaviors.
The training started with an ice breaker and then the presentation was divided into three sub-topics. The first section was Conflict Resolution. While learning about this topic, the group was shown games they could play with the kids to help them reflect on where conflict and violence exist and why. For example, each student could give an example of where he/she sees violence in the world and as each student shares, a ball of yarn is passed around, making a web. Then they explored conflict, finding out that we have conflict because we all have different preferences, opinions, needs, values, and experiences and we are bound to disagree. Then the group went over what escalates conflict and what de-escalates conflict. Some role playing allowed for greater understanding.
The next section was Anger Management. The group discussed the definition of anger, a strong feeling of displeasure or hostility. Then participants made a list of what made us angry and discussed both the triggers and the intensity. For each potential trigger, the group discussed a potential situation. Then they discussed how one can mismanage his/her anger: carrying a grudge, exploding, blaming, acting mad at the world, taking it out on someone else, or gossiping to get even. Then the group explored the consequences of anger, including how your health is affected when you’re angry.
The third section was Bullying. The group discussed the different types of bullying, social/ emotional, physical and verbal. Then they defined a target, witness and ally. Then each participant assumed one of those roles and listened to the emotions and experiences of the imagined target, witness, and ally.
At the conclusion of the day, participants were grouped into the three sub-topics and planned for the workshop they will present to all four classes of sixth graders. It was a very productive, reflective day that promises to bring a community-building, positive event in March when those trained in W.A.V.E. visit the 6th graders.