E. Family life education

Family life education programmes and other curricula for secondary students may offer an opportunity of preventing family violence. These programmes can focus student attention on:

· Male power and control over women
· Respect for women
· Family life
· Human growth and development
· Sex education
· Non-violent conflict resolution
· Anger-management skills
· Communication skills
· Human rights
· Gender-based stereotypes
· Principles of equality and fair treatment
· The importance of autonomy and relationships based on mutual respect
· Family violence
· Parenting skills
· Child-care practices
· Child development

In some places, teachers, school administrators, shelter workers and practitioners have worked together to develop educational programmes. These programmes offer young people strategies for avoiding violence in their own lives. They teach about non-violence and non-coercive interpersonal relationships. For instance:

A programme in Minnesota, United States, My Family and Me: Violence Free, trains teachers to present material on family violence and non-violent skills.¹⁸⁷

The State of New Jersey, United States, is teaching teachers about domestic violence and its impact on children who witness it. Domestic Violence: A Guide for Educators helps teachers recognize the behaviours associated with children from violent homes. It also trains teachers to respond to these children individually and in the classroom. A workshop leader’s guide is also available: Workshop Leader’s Guide to the Effects of Domestic Violence on Children: A Workshop for New Jersey Educators.¹⁸⁸

In London, Ontario, Canada, the Public Board of Education, together with students and teachers, has developed a newsletter and information brochures on domestic violence for students and teachers. The Board has offered several workshops on violence prevention in local schools.¹⁸⁹

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation has lesson plans and guidelines for teaching children about issues of violence. The project documentation, Thumbs Down:

A Classroom Response to Violence Towards Women, offers teaching ideas for all levels.