Results of Teacher Retreat

Toledo RC Schools Staff Retreat
April-June, 2008

Purpose of Retreats:
The teacher’s retreats are days of recollection for the teachers to take a break from teaching, grow as persons in their faith and think about their lives. The retreats are conducted by a priest (Fr. Dick) and the JVI (Bobby Karle). They conduct 12 retreats for the 30 RC schools, combining small schools, with an average of 20 teachers per retreat. There is one set of retreats during the first term and one during the third term.

Third Term retreat theme:
Transforming Violence to Peace and Nonviolence

Summary of Retreat on Nonviolence:
The third term teacher retreat was inspired by the Ghandi Institute for Nonviolence pamphlet (included in this packet). The day retreat was spent discussing the types of violence in the Toledo district, the causes and influences, and the ways one can respond to the violence and other social issues. The day began with an activity on peace activists (included in packet) in which each teacher was given a name and picture or description and then had to pair up with the correct match. In the later morning teachers read an article titled “Jesus and Alinsky” which discussed three responses to violence: 1. violent opposition, 2. passivity or doing nothing 3. and the third way of militant nonviolence. The article suggests that Jesus advocates using the third way of nonviolence. The article was intended to have teachers think about if and how the third way applies to violence in Toledo they discussed.
During the afternoon teachers acted out role play skits with two outcomes: violent outcome first and then the same scenario with a nonviolent response. The three skits were: disciplining a student who is always causing trouble and seems to only respond to lashing, confronting someone in your family whose drinking has become abusive and out of control, and responding to suspicions that a friend has been unfaithful to his or her partner.

Summary of responses from small group discussions

1. What are the types of Violence/ Crime in the Toledo District?

Abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Rape
Harassment
Emotional/ Verbal abuse

Domestic violence
Husband to wife
Wife to husband
Father to children
Mother to children
Robbery
Murder
Drugs related crimes/ trafficking

2. What are some changes in the Toledo district?

Positive changes:
Increase in educational opportunities
More recreational activities for youth (Youth Group, Scouts, Cadets)
Increase women’s role in society
Increase in organizations:
Julian Cho Society
SATTIM
Garifuna Council
Women’s Group
Tolca
Youth for the Future
TIDE

Negative changes:
o Destruction of land and natural resources
o Increase in crime
o Increases in cost of living
o More and more people leaving to work in other districts
o Decrease in values


Changes with positives and negatives (up for debate):
More denominations of Churches
More technology
Population growth
More protected lands (less farmable land)
More roads (easier to travel)



Causes and Influences of Violence, Crime and Problems

Family problems/ breakdown of the family
Single parents families

Community issues
Gangs
Lack of jobs
Laziness
School dropout
Political/ Religious divisions
Blue vs. Red division
Increase in Churches causing division

Other influences

Peer Influence
Lack of positive role models
Breakdown of the family and loss of family values
Lack of parental guidance
Movies
Advertisement
Drugs
Fast money
Poverty
Unemployment
Influence from city




Ways of Responding to social issues

o Teach Christian values at early age and challenges they will face in society
o Go to Church and encourage friends and family to go along
o Get involved with organizations
o Promote peace and nonviolent solutions
o Set an examples for others/ be a role model for youth
o Be an advocate for change
o Stand up for what you believe in
o Reach out and give advice to those facing challenges
o Help arrange youth activities, Sunday schools, youth groups
o Provide info on consequences and effects of violence, drugs, and sex
o Consult resource personnel and professional help
o Increase participation in community involvement


As Parents:
o Mother and Father need to have stable relationship
o They need to communicate more with their children
o Positive encouragement and reward for success and good behavior
o Discuss dangers of drugs with children
o Give more loving attention instead of money and presents as attention
o Practice their faith and live out what they want their children to
o Discipline children and give an explanation of their discipline
o Explain to children about the responsibilities of the leaders of the community

As Teachers:
o Teach manners
o Involve children in projects (craft making, sports, community service)
o Involve young people in leadership exercises
o Be role models
o Give special attention to those with behavioral issues



General changes needed in Toledo:
More jobs
More opportunities to go to high school and university
Rehab clinics and counseling centers in the Toledo district