| Posted: Dec. 31 2004,18:34 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
The
Roughrider Focus Group, Inc. has accomplished 30 goals in terms of
resolution of disputes between students/parents and the St. Marys City
School System.
-We have two new school board members who recognize
the need for dialogue between the school board,
administrators, parents, students and the entire community.
-We have a new school superintendent who is working to
improve curriculum. He is student-centered and has pledged
to rebuild trust between the community and the school
system.
-The supt. is supplying us with each monthly school board
agenda and we are supplying him with our monthly agenda.
The purpose is to share concerns with each other.
-We videotape and televise all school board meetings.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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The obstacles that have prevented progress are:
-not always being able to gather enough concrete data to
support a violation that may have occurred.
-Negative attitude on the part of some board members and
toward community input/involvement in
school affairs.
-The school board is entrenched with a three/five member
majority vote on issues.
-Funding cuts, the closing of one school, lack of trust
between community and school system.
trust
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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-We assisted with election of two new school board members.
-We served on a committee to screen applicants for the
superintendency position.
-We gave written feedback to support our stance on the hire
of one of two candidates for the superintendency-
and our choice was hired.
-We met with the new supt. to establish rapport and explain
the purpose of our organization. Rapport has improved.
-In 2003,at the invitation of the board, we surveyed WBL
schools to submit a written, extracurricular policy.
We will be doing the same thing in 2005 as well as
providing input on an athletic handbook.
-We surveyed all WBL schools to submit a proposal for the
improved selection of cheerleaders at the high school level.
We brought disgruntled parents together with the cheerleader
advisor to improve relations.
-We videotape and televise all school board meetings to share
school information with the public.
-We address the school board on various issues to provide
information and feedback.
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
The
advice I would give is to adequately fund State groups, such as the
Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management, so they
may continue to assist local
groups such as the RFG. The
workshops and various other activities/information provided by the
OCDRCM is valuable information for advocates and school personnel.
I would also ask those at the Federal level to continue to share and train staff, at the State level, in state-of-the-art
techniques for dispute resolution and conflict management.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Our
group works with individuals and with various organizations that may
refer a parent/student to us. There are various social service
agencies and law enforcement agencies that we deal with a great deal.
We also deal closely with school teachers, coaches,
administrators and school board members.
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
-We will continue to request placement on our school athletic
bd. and submit recommendations for a new athletic policy.
-We will, starting in January 2005, share our agenda with the
school supt., and vice versa, for the purpose of sharing
important concerns.
-We will encourage community residents to run for election to
the school board in 11/05.
-We will improve our brochure to better explain our program.
-We will continue to obtain appropriate training through the
Ohio OCDRCM.
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Postal address of organization
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406 West Oliver Street
St. Marys, Ohio 45885
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E-mail address of organization
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scdove49@yahoo.com
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Website address of organization
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roughriderfocus@yahoo.com
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Free flow of information
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a culture of peace
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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United States
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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