SALT Programme Teacher Training
Conflict Resolution in the Primary School
An interactive and experiential training to
- deepen your understanding of how conflicts develop and escalate.
- teach conflict resolution and other social skills aimed at
turning students into peacemakers and using conflicts as opportunities
to learn about ourselves and others.
- learn how to manage and resolve conflicts creatively in classrooms
- communicate effectively with parents and colleagues
In times of increasing competition, violence and lack of social cohesion in our society and
the world at large, specific peace and conflict education becomes more urgent. Children
are particularly vulnerable and need good role models. Teachers need to be equipped with
excellent skills for communicating effectively and for dealing with conflict situations – these
are likely to arise in every classroom, school yard, staff room and even parent meetings.
Conflict Resolution skills can be learnt and taught in systematic, creative and entertaining
ways. As of today (2012), they are rarely taught in current mainstream education, nor can
they be expected to be learnt in families.
Course Facilitators:
Thomas Riedmuller, Family Mediator and Communication Trainer who has taught conflict
resolution, anger management and related skills to primary and secondary school students
and teachers since 2002. He is also a founding director of the The Hollies Centre for
Practical Sustainability near Enniskeane, West Cork, a director of Dunmanway Family
Rescource Centre and is the father of 4 boys.
Des Mc Enaney, Family Mediator (Practitioner) and Workplace / Organisational Mediator
(Practitioner) has extensive experience of mediation training and mediation practice. In
addition, as a Registered Psychologist, Counsellor / Psychotherapist, EMDR Therapist and
Conflict Management Coach, he is able to offer a unique blend of knowledge and
experience in his work as a Practitioner Mediator. He has considerable experience of
working with adults and with children and families.
This course is based on the SALT-Programme developed by Fiona Mc Auslan in
collaboration with Drumcondra Education Centre.
Evening Course - 4 Sessions
Aims: To raise teachers' awareness of how conflicts evolve in their lives and in their
schools and how discipline and general communication practices are interrelated.
To introduce several practical, positive approaches to establishing and maintaining
harmony in the classroom.
To practice skills of preventing, de-escalating and solving conflicts, particularly in
the classroom and schoolyard, but also with parents and colleagues.
Underlying Values: diversity, cooperation, peace, mutual respect. We teach more with our
own behaviour and living example than with hard facts. Personal development and
increasing awareness of our own communication patterns are therefore essential for
improving our quality of teaching and
even counteracting professional burn out.
Activities: The course is experiential i.e. participants will see and hear the practices of
positive communication and conflict resolution in the way the course is structured and
delivered. They will also have opportunities of trying them out in practical exercises and
role-plays.
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