Carolyn C. Smith
Various forms of popular culture serve to educate and socialize as well as influence human behavior. In a discipline such as criminal justice, little is known by the general public about the individuals involved with the system: the law enforcer, the victim, and the offender. Therefore, the construction of reality for most is likely to come from media representations. Depending on the city, state, and reporter, the message can be damaging to individuals. Our children need to be taught at a very early age the appropriate behavior which would keep them from the criminal menaces of society. Teaching them this behavior is not enough, we must make sure that they are constantly utilizing the appropriate behavior.
Problem solving techniques are an intricate part of our daily lives. They can provide children with a focus for learning through play especially if they are done during group time activities. It is a way teachers introduce children to the world of creative and critical thinking, both as individuals and as part of a group. Problem solving can create and encourage cooperation because it teaches children to learn to hear and support each other’s ideas
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Problem solving is a process of identifying a problem or goal, generating ideas to solve or reach it, then testing out the ideas. Listed below are several steps to guide children through the process, though not every problem follows these steps exactly or has a definite solution.
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1. Define the problem. Use open-ended questions to encourage children to talk about what they are doing, thinking or feeling. When children can’t verbalize the problem clearly, they should be helped to find a few key words, and build from there.
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2. Brainstorm solutions. Instead of finding one “right” answer to a question or problem, it is important for children to think of several options. Open-ended questions such as, “What’s another way you can do this?” or “What would happen if we tried a different way?” encourage children to expand their thinking. Remember brainstorming is to be used for coming up with many possible solutions, not to evaluate the solutions.
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3. Decide where to start. After brainstorming, choose which ideas to test. It’s important to remember that problem solving is a fluid process. We often think of one thing to try, then reshape it, modify it, or abandon it altogether in order to try something new. It’s not important to stick to the original plan.
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4. Select or create tools. During this step it is important to decide what is needed in order to try out the solutions. If the problem is a conflict between people, words can be carefully used as the best tools to solve the conflict.
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5. Experiment with solutions. This step in the problem solving process teaches the students a sense of independent that they will gain from testing their ideas. When acknowledging all ideas as experiments, it reinforces the idea that problem solving is a process.
These five steps to successful problem solving skills should be used as frequently as possible whenever a conflict arises. The frequency of their use will make them a part of the students’ daily routine at school, home and in the community. This action will bridge the gap which has become so detrimental to the well beings of all members of this society.
Much has been said which appears to point us in the right direction to become united as a society and as a nation. Everyone is incorporating diversity and multiculturalism as a major part of the curriculum. What does this mean for the future. Are we really developing a general attitude of acceptance and caring? Are we really developing a positive expectation for success? Are we really valuing differences of cultures? With the hostility and inappropriate behavior plaguing our nations the answers to those questions is one word. NO! Although we have come a long way, we still have a long way to go because we are yet to accept reality. We are different, and we will remain different as long a we are on the face of the earth. We will continue to treat those who have values different that those we were raised by as outsiders. We will accept anyone into our culture on a temporary basis. Even as we think of the tragedies which happened with TWA flight 800 and the World Olympics in Atlanta the questions of “Why would anyone want to harm innocent people?”, ad “Who did this horrible act?” will go for years without answers. When the person or persons who are responsible for those acts are caught, will they be given justice or will they be labeled with a reason for their act which we, the public, will be expected to accept? As we prepare ourselves for tomorrow, we will always ask the question,
“Why do we have to suffer for the rights of others”? Answer: “We don’t know, but we will continue to search for the answer.”
