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Today's young people face more choices than the youth of past generations. During this era, when violence is too often used to resolve problems, one of our jobs as educators is to provide students with the essential skills needed to make appropriate choices when faced with conflict. The Students Advocating Against Violence Initiative (SAAVI) curriculum is based on the premise that violence is a learned behavior, and is the product of attitudes, beliefs and values that students have about themselves and others. If young people can be led to examine the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behavior, violent "acting out" can be reduced. The F.E.G.S. SAAVI Program teaches young people how to exercise their freedom to make choices about their own behavior. The SAAVI course helps students to recognize the impact of violence in everyday life while allowing them to explore their own anger in a safe environment. It aids them in developing enhanced communication and coping skills and understand better the power and control dynamics of violent relationships. |