Website Review: Educators for Social Responsibility
http://www.esrnational.org/
by Adam Dei Cas

Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making the teaching of social responsibility a core practice in education. They envision educators helping students develop strong convictions and skills to “shape a safe, sustainable, democratic, and just world.” The website, at http://www.esrnational.org/, contains a wide variety of information on ESR's work to promote character education through conflict resolution, civic engagement, prevention programming and education reform.

The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP), highlighted on the ESR homepage, aims to create “safe, respectful, and caring communities” by providing information on establishing classroom models and coaching methods. On the site, you can read more about this model of conflict resolution and the five developmental needs that are the pillars of the program. If this seems like a method that can work in your classroom, you can set up a phone consultation and training session by ESR staff to help implement RCCP in your classroom and school. RCCP will provide teacher training in areas such as curriculum-based problem solving instruction, classroom management and various instructional practices. ESR boasts that RCCP has spread to over 400 schools nationwide in urban, suburban and rural settings. If you still have doubts or want a more in-depth view, click on "An intensive study of RCCP" to see results of a study conducted by the Center For Children In Poverty of Columbia University.

You can learn more about ESR’s mission through the links on its webpage. Click on "Professional Services" to read more about its dedication to adult development and education reform. Here you can view the four arenas of focus, such as secondary school reform and sensitive and effective responses to local, national or international crises. Go to "Teaching About Conflict In the World" and download discussion packets and free lesson plans on topics such as understanding war, providing space in your classroom for children to find peace, analyzing hate crimes, discrimination and understanding the tensions and issues in Afghanistan. You can even connect with partners of ESR, such as Operation Respect and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. In the "Resources" section, you can view sample lesson plans of its Day of Harmony, a special television broadcast on local WB stations throughout New England. Visit the online store to purchase education materials, request a catalog or sign up to receive their free electronic newsletter. Other sections that may be of interest include models of afterschool programs and a Master’s of Education program with a specialization in Conflict Resolution and Peaceable Schools, begun by ESR in conjunction with Lesley College.