SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

Alaska’s Educational Resource Center (SERRC), in partnership with the Center for Civic Education, provides professional development for teachers and facilitated student use of the School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program (SVPDP) in schools in Anchorage, Alaska. Each year, since the Anchorage School District adopted SVPDP materials as recommended text for their social studies program, between 17 and 25 Anchorage School District teachers have received extensive training. Those teachers have carried the strong message of violence prevention to thousands of students.

As the 87th largest school district in the country and the largest in Alaska, with approximately 50,000 students, the district has a diverse staff and student population that is matched by the diversity of its program offerings.

Anchorage School District students speak a combined 84 different languages. After English, the five most common are Spanish, Hmong, Tagalog, Samoan and Korean. This year, for the first time, minority students comprise 50 percent of the student population. This diversity provides students with the ability to interact with peers from many different backgrounds, expanding their knowledge of other cultures, and preparing for life in a global society. The Anchorage School District student population reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of the state’s community. Anchorage is an educational, medical, and commercial hub for Alaska, and home to many Alaska natives as well as immigrants from around the globe.

• Legal system SVPDP volunteers

  • Judges and lawyers visit classrooms upon request when teachers are teaching the SVPDP components Justice and Authority from Foundations of Democracy

• ”Cooperative Learning” embraced by students

  • The printed SVPDPcomponent materials from the Center for Civic Education are age-appropriate and visually stimulating; students are encouraged to work together, using cooperative learning-style lessons. Many of the learning activities are scenario-based and offer opportunities for parents to participate, either in a specific role or as an audience.

In developing their understanding of civic education, students have produced plans to change their communities through action projects that influence public policies. Last year, students at Homestead Elementary School identified a safety issue that they wanted to address. They noticed that many students chose to walk on the road in the dark, both to and from school, rather than on the snow-covered sidewalks.

 Quotes

This curriculum is the only way to teach the Constitution.  The other books available to us can’t compare.
Annette Valdez, Fifth-grade teacher
Abbott Loop Elementary, Anchorage

Learning tolerance and civic responsibility will help the students understand their social studies lessons better and help the students become leaders of the school.
Kristi Bryers, Fifth-grade Teacher
Klatt Elementary, Anchorage

The Center for Civic Education's curricula is a great way for students to explore issues about the Constitution and citizenship.  The activities that center around events like a town meeting or Congressional Hearing get students out of the textbook to experience in "real life" what some of these issues entail.  When I teach a lesson from the curricula, I know it's never going to be boring!  From a student after a town meeting, in which they were required to present a point of view they did not necessarily agree with: "Mrs. Truskowski, do you know how difficult it is to take another person's point of view?"  I love that quote and we discussed it as a group in all my classes the next day.  If we can all learn to understand, if not agree with, another's point of view, then we could have fewer conflicts everywhere - at school, at home, nationally, internationally.
Julie Truskowski, Sixth-grade teacher
Bayshore Elementary School, Anchorage

The strength of this program is that students really like working with the materials. Cooperative learning is built in. Working with thisSVPDP curriculum is the highlight of the day for both my students and me.
Adrianne Grenier, Fifth-grade teacher
Williwaw Elementary School, Anchorage

My experience with this program: I have really enjoyed teaching this program.  History and Government have never been my favorite subjects, especially as a student in school.  This program is fun, and easy to use with the students.  I have discovered a love for history and government that I have never had before.  The curriculum fits hand in hand with our adopted Social Studies curriculum.  It has been fun to watch the students learn about the history of America, their founding fathers, and why are country is the way it is today.  By engaging in the City Council Meetings and Congressional Hearings, I have witnessed very shy, with-drawn students learn to speak out and share their thoughts/opinions.  I am confident the students will leave my classroom having a much greater understanding of honesty, authority, justice, and responsibility.  I am also confident my students will have a solid foundation of the history of our country and how it originally started.  I only wish I had been taught this way when I was in fifth grade!
Jennifer Rizer, Fifth-grade teacher
Trailside Elementary School, Anchorage

The students are very engaged with the SVPDP materials and subject matter. I think they are empowered by the language and ideas presented to them. They have such a strong need for fairness, especially since they are inundated with poverty, violence, and homelessness. Many are beginning to realize that there are appropriate means of ensuring fairness and that they can have an effect on their community.
Danielle Lesdo, Teacher
Williwaw Elementary School, Anchorage

One thing that works well in the SVPDP program is the opportunity to learn the materials with other district teachers while being trained by an experienced teacher already implementing the program. The materials are user friendly, grade-level appropriate, and enjoyable for the students.
Alexandra Hagler, Teacher
Chugiak Elementary School, Chugiak

My students have discovered the value of respect for differences of opinion, class, ethnicity, and culture. They realize that differences exist among individuals and that this diversity can be affirmative and socially enriching.
Margaret Theonnes, Teacher
Gladys Wood Elementary, Anchorage.

For further information contact:
Center for Civic Education, 5145 Douglas Fir Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
Tel: 818-591-9321
Website: www.civiced.org
Joan Pardes, Site Coordinator joanp@serrc.org
Maria Gallo, Director, School Violence Pevention Demonstration Program gallo@civiced.org