NCJ Number
160366
Date Published
1989
Length
172 pages
Annotation
This teacher's manual provides guidance for teachers in presenting curriculum sessions designed to raise students' awareness of the problem of domestic violence and the underlying causes, encourage prevention by challenging widely held attitudes that tolerate violence, and provide direct services and referrals for juveniles in violent dating or family relationships.
Abstract
Each section of the curriculum begins with the teaching objectives, an introduction to the material to be covered, and instructions. There are also accompanying information and resources that relate to each topic. Any special materials needed are noted at the beginning of each section. One section involves a student survey that measures each student's knowledge and beliefs about the use of violence in interpersonal relationships. This provides an initial baseline measure of students' understanding and attitudes about interpersonal violence. It can later be used to measure what they have learned from the curriculum. In a second section, "Facing the Facts," students differentiate the myths from the facts about interpersonal violence and are introduced to the subject matter. In the third section, "The Culture of Violence," students examine the roots of violence and sexism. Cultural media are explored, from early childhood stories to contemporary films, television, and advertising, as well as family and peer socialization. In the fourth section, "What Is Love?" students are taught to distinguish between "disguised" and "genuine" love. Various behaviors attributed to love are examined, and their real-life consequences are assessed. In the fifth section, students work on skills for violence-free relationships. The concluding section involves a re-administering of the student survey to allow for a comparative measure of the change in student attitudes and knowledge about interpersonal violence. Teacher responsibilities for conducting the exercises in each session are explained.