Resolving Conflict Creatively

This series from Canada-based Triune Arts helps the viewer to recognize conflict and understand the causes and underlying values, feelings, and emotions that come into play in a given situation. Volume one, Resolving Conflict Creatively in the School Community (avail. separately for $180) presents a scenario in which a young girl from a conflict-ridden home, who participates in a conflict management course at school, learns how to use negotiation and mediation in resolving conflict. The program touches on disagreements between siblings, spouses, parent and child, parent and teacher, teacher and student, and friends. Volume two, Resolving Conflict Creatively in the Multicultural Community (avail. separately for $90) looks specifically at how unfamiliarity with the unique value and belief systems of different cultures can lead to conflict, and presents techniques for inter-cultural mediation. Although the first two volumes are available separately, volumes three and four comprise a two-part series entitled Resolving Conflict Creatively Between Victims and Youth Offenders (avail. separately for $180), which introduces a community justice model as an alternative to incarceration of youth offenders. Various workers from the different law and justice agencies explain their roles in this approach, which employs mediation as an alternative to the court system and utilizes community healing circles to bring together the victim, the offender, and involved members of the community. This series does an excellent job of demonstrating the effectiveness of negotiation and mediation in resolving conflict, with the first two volumes focusing primarily on conflict between individuals and the second two volumes demonstrating how conflict can be resolved on a larger societal scale. The first two volumes would be very beneficial in an interpersonal communications curriculum for high school, college students, or out of school adult learners, while the final two-parter would probably be most helpful for those whose responsibilities lie in government law enforcement and the juvenile justice system. Handouts and a teacher's manual are included in the boxed set. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)