Teachers Guide - Operation Respect

• Enlist the support of the student’s parents.
• Create and enforce consequences for the behavior that are instructive, rather than punitive.
Be mindful to reinforce and model the positive behaviors you are seeking from the children
when developing the consequences. Use an approach that emphasizes prevention and
problem solving and encourages solutions that are generated together with the child.
See School-Age Adventures in Peacemaking by William J. Kreidler and Lisa Furlong (available
through ESR at 800-370-2515) for more help with developing intervention strategies.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS (OPTIONAL)
Literature/History. Books such as Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz (Econo-Clad
Books, 1999) for grades 3-6 and If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution by
Elizabeth Levy (Econo-Clad Books, 1999) for grades 3-6 are excellent launching points for
teaching about the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Ask students what the words
“constitution,” “right,” and “responsibility” mean to them. Guide them toward accurate
definitions through brainstorming and discussion, emphasizing the reciprocal bond between
“right” and “responsibility.”
Art. Decorate t-shirts with the positive Caring Being words. Or create a Caring Being mascot for
your classroom by stuffing old clothes (as one would make a scarecrow). Have children
contribute items to the Being that represent caring to them: big ears for good listening, longer
arms for hugging, etc.
Children’s Conscious Acts of Caring
In an American Studies class at Nashville’s Hillsboro High, questions about the Columbine
shootings the day before turned quickly from “How could this happen?” to “What can we do?”
Within an hour, the class had come up with a plan: Put into writing a simple commitment to
stop taunting classmates for the way they dress, talk, or act. More than 1,100 of Hillsboro’s 1,500
students signed the “I Will” pledge during the first week. After hearing about the project, a
Nashville computer firm offered to host a website. The pledge in part reads:
I will pledge to be part of the solution.
I will eliminate taunting from my own behavior.
I will encourage others to do the same.
I will not let my words or actions hurt others.
And if others won’t become part of the solution, I WILL.
Your students can find out more and join the Hillsboro campaign against taunting by visiting
www.iwillpledge.nashville.com
Caring, Compassion, and Cooperation © 2000 Operation Respect, Inc. and Educators for Social Responsibility 37