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Manchester
kids learn how
to “Talk it Out” from
MC students with a mission
 Manchester
Elementary School students are excellent conversationalists, especially
when it comes to working out problems. Through Manchester College’s
“Let’s Talk it Out” program, elementary students learn to talk through
problems, demonstrating respect for other opinions and conflict
resolution.
This
school year, 23 Manchester College students trained 121 first-graders
and 96 second-graders in conflict resolution skills. The project is
part of an MC course, Intercultural Communication, taught by Associate
Professor Mary P. Lahman. The goal was to translate intercultural
communication principles into five 20-minute lessons for the elementary
students.
Students young and older did skits on keeping “anger elevators” on the
first floor, recognizing differences in perception, learning to listen
to each other and brainstorming to work together to solve problems. “I
feel we are broadening horizons by helping kids understand differences,”
said one MC student. “They seem to really be grasping most of the
material.”
“Let’s Talk it Out” was instituted two years ago, a
partnership of the College, Manchester Community Schools and Education
for Conflict Resolution, under the direction of Angie Briner, executive
director. Dr. Lahman instituted the
program in North Manchester with support as a Faculty Fellow of the
Indiana Campus Compact, which promotes active involvement of Indiana’s
colleges and universities in their communities.
Those students, now
in third grade, remember many of the skills they acquired in the
program, said Dr. Lahman. “Sometimes my feelings get hurt. Because of
your lessons, I learned to control my anger and feelings,” reported one
third-grader who participated in the first “Let’s Talk it Out.”
“I am
proud of the fact that I am giving these kids an opportunity to think
before they act, and hopefully keeping them from getting into trouble,”
said another Manchester College student. “If
the kids can retain the information, it will really help them in life.”
Teachers receive a binder of “Let’s Talk it
Out” lesson plans and many continue to use conflict resolution
techniques taught by the college students. Manchester College
students will return to elementary schools again this fall to teach a
new batch of first-, second- and third-graders tolerance and acceptance
of each other and other cultures, said Dr. Lahman.
Manchester
is a Church of the Brethren college offering 45 areas of study to 1,075
students from 23 states and 30 countries. The college’s and the church’s
heritage is steeped in a concern for peace and justice. For more about
the college, please visit
www.manchester.edu |
