I have been using the Education for Peace Series in school settings and in my martial arts program for the past 11 years. The book and accompanying curriculum (sold separately)is powerful, direct and meaningful for children. It helps them to understand bullying at its core thereby teaching students not only to understand conflict but to successfully navigate through it using the Twelve Ways to Walk Away with Confidence. The Twelve Ways provide options for children: they choose which one feels more comfortable for them in a threatening situation. All children are different and have varying levels of comfort with specific strategies. What I like best about this book is that it provides understanding about bullying without casting blame AND provides youth with several means to deal with it. Imagine your child is cornered and alone and is physically or even verbally threatened. What tools does your child have to get out of the situation? If their life is endangered, should they “reason with the bully”, “use trickery”, “shout”, try to “make friends”, or “use humor”? Are there other tools in the toolbox for them to pull out to save their life or avoid a verbal or physical beating? Tools and understanding is what this program provides. Hopefully, a child will be spared if s/he has some skills. Without skills, s/he is more likely to become another victim.
