Bullying and Peaceful Schools-NC Conference

Mentalization and Violence: The Unthinking Social System
presented by Peter Fonagy, PhD
Dr. Fonagy will explore the roots of bullying, not only in terms of the personal history of those who are aggressive and violent but also in terms of the unthinking and sometimes even apparently mindless social systems we create where physical aggression pays, violence is idealized, and we as bystanders feel we are powerless to prevent it.

Creating Peacful Schools: Lessons for What Works
presented by Stuart Twemlow, MD
Many anti-bullying programs have failed. Dr. Twemlow will describe successful programs from his work in a number of countries demonstrating that each school (and not outside experts) applies creative approaches to its own unique circumstances. As Dr. Twemlow will illustrate, peaceful communities (of any kind or size) foster a sense of purpose and a sense of themselves and others.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this three hour program, participants should be able to:
- Apply concepts of mentalizing to understanding situations involving aggressive behavior
- Apply principles of power dynamics to understanding situations involving aggressive behavior
- Coordinate these two principles into a practical approach to reducing aggressive behavior

A Kid's Eye View: The Bully, The Bullied, The Bystander, The Bold
with contributions from local children and commentary from Peter Fonagy, PhD, Stuart Twemlow, MD and conference participants
This workshop will shed light on the multiple roles and perspectives involved in bullying. Through role plays and commentaries, it will highlight the responsibility, not only of the bully but also of all of us as bystanders, for the victimization that occurs around us, whether in our classrooms, our streets, our work places, or our homes.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this three hour program, participants will gain an understanding on how to:
- Empower children to develop greater empathy for others and insight into their own choices and behavior.
- Enable students, teachers, parents, and other members of the community to  contribute to an environment that promotes mutual respect and peaceful conflict resolution.
- Provide a conceptual framework for school and community members that makes sense of the roles played by the bully, the bullied, the bystander, and the bold.