GRUNDTVIG PROJECTCOLEGIUL NATIONAL GH.ROSCA CODREANU,

BARLAD

THE WISDOM OF A STORY A teacher asked his students, “ Why people yell at each

other when they are upset?”The students thought for a while, and one said, “We lose our

calm and so we yell!”“But explain to me, why do you yell when the other person is right next to you” asked the teacher.“Isn’t it possible to speak to him or her in a soft voice? Why do you yell at a person when you are angry?”The students gave some answers but none satisfied the teacher. Finally the teacher explained: “ When two people are angry at each other, there is a distance which arises between their hearts. To cover that distance they must yell, to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the louder they will have to yell to hear each other through that great distance. “

Then the teacher asked, “What happens when people are in love? They do not yell at each other but talk softly. Why? Their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small.”

The teacher continued, “ What happens when their love for the other grows even more? They do not speak, they only whisper…they only look at each other and that is all. That is how close people are when they love each other. The heart is like one.”

Apply it: Next time you get angry, try speaking in a soft voice. Your anger will reduce a lot.

• THE 4TH OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY, THAT JUST CELEBRATED 166 YEARS OF EXISTENCE “GH. R. CODREANU”

• HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE BEST INSTITUTION OF ITS KIND IN THE AREA.

• IT HAS BEEN AWARDED MANY TIMES AS A RECOGNITION OF THE EXCELLENCY .

• GREAT PERSONALITIES OF THE COUNTRY STUDIED OR TAUGHT AT THIS HIGHSCHOOL.

• IT HOSTS 961 STUDENTS AND 57 TEACHERS, ALL INVOLVED IN HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.

• IT IS THE SCHOOL PRAISED BY A FAMOUS POET (NICHITA STANESCU) WHO SAID: “COVER IT IN GOLD”

SOME OF THE PERSONALITIES WHO MADE THE POET SAY THOSE WORDS ARE :

VASILE PARVAN - HISTORIAN MARCEL GUGUIANU – SCULPTURE ARTIST VICTOR ION POPA - WRITER CONSTANTIN CHIRITA - WRITER GARABET IBRAILEANU - WRITER THEODOR ANGHELUTA – MINISTER ALEXANDRU PHILIPPIDE – ACADEMICIAN ALEXANDRU VLAHUTA – WRITER, ACADEMICIAN TEODOR EMANDI - POLITICIAN

As an educational institution we acknowledge that violence among students is one of the issues we are facing nowadays with multiple roots, a complex phenomenon that requires an equal complex approach.

We also acknowledge the need for programs that are holistic, value-based, and empowerment-oriented to help young people develop their personal and social values and skills.

We have focused on several measures to prevent/cope with violent behavior arising in our school:

1. An increased attention to aggressive behavior during the counseling and orientation classes at the disposal at each teacher

2. A continuous connection with the school psychologist to whom we refer the students with behavioral issues

3. Individual and/or group counseling provided by the school psychologist and the counseling teachers

4. Meeting with the parents either as a group and/or individually

5. Meeting between parents and teachers to share opinions and decide on ways to better manage reductions of violence of all types among students

6. Maintaining a close relationship with the community and its institutions (Police, Hospital) directly involved in dealing with violence

7. Organizing activities such as “Conflict management techniques” at the suggestion of the Students’ Council involving students and counseling teachers

8. Focusing on effective instruction, an important component in preventing school violence

9.Setting clear expectations and rules based on the current legislation10.Monitoring the existing conflicts with the help of all teachers in an consisting way11.Abiding by the set rules as teachers ourselves

Currently, we are partners with other schools from Barlad area in a project: “A smile for art” which scope is to measure how can school determine positive behavior through esthetic education. One of the meetings of people involved in this project will take place at Codreanu high school on November 24th

We need to plan more thoroughly in order to prevent violent behavior.

1.First we need to develop a data base with the names of the students who have a history of aggressive behavior

2. Second, educational and non-educational personnel of the school need to be aware of all signs that announce possible behavioral issues (withdrawal, impulsivity, lack of concentration, etc)

3. Involve everybody in school in the process of monitoring the behavior of the troubled students. Ask teachers to take responsibilities both inside classroom/school and beyond

4. Have strong connections with media, Police, Hospital asking them to come in schools and talk to students and teachers about the consequences of offending others either physically or verbally

5. Use the site of the school as a place to encourage the best behaviors and praise the students who exhibit this kind of attitude

6. Have students with behavioral issues involved in different activities that would consume their time and energy in a positive way (such as volunteering)

7. Have a curriculum at the school disposal (CDS) on strategies and techniques to deal with anger and frustrations or non-violent conflict resolutions

8. Have peer mediation – train a group of students that would address the violence issues to their peers along with the teachers (The Students’ Council)

9. Develop alternatives especially for the vacation time (known as a period when violence increases) such as summer programs or clubs

10. Make the students and parents aware of the rules of conduct of the school by posting those in a visible place and reinforcing them as often as possible

11. Develop a program for the students whose parents are working abroad and cooperate with The Child Protective Service specialists

12. Have teachers take courses on how to prevent violence (organized by the county educational institutions)

13. Focus on effective instruction because academic success discourages behavioral problems

14. Get parents REALLY involved (participating in school activities along with their children)

CONCLUSIONS: We always need to keep an open eye on the students and ourselves, train us

and train them in order to achieve that safe environment that we want the school to be.

Vigilance, understanding and cooperation are equally important in our work as educators as well as being responsible for our acts because we stand as role models for the younger ones.

“We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make strong progress towards it.” (MAHATMA GANDHI)

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The end of the story: “My dears, when you talk to each other don’t let your hearts get distant, don’t say words that will increase the gap between you because a day will come when the distance will be so big that your hearts will not find a way back”.