Background & ObjectivesBuses and trains are still the safest forms of mobility. Correspondingly, many schoolchildren use the transport system of Wuppertaler Stadtwerke AG (the Wuppertal transport company) to get to and back from school every day. Because of general violent tendencies and a rising number of aggressive incidents among children and adolescents, conflicts occur frequently during school transport. This presents a danger to the health of the children and adolescents while being annoying to other public transport customers and alienating them. In addition, the costs which are necessary for the repair of damage caused by vandalism are another unpleasant result of these conflicts.
In view of this development, a pedagogical measure was developed, which helps children and adolescents to solve their problems constructively and without violence. This measure is referred to as the Project for Vehicle Attendants on Public Transport - WupperScouts.
ImplementationWupperScouts are mediators between public transport employees and their fellow schoolmates. However, they definitely don’t act in the capacity of “deputy sheriffs”, “security personnel” or “assistant inspectors”. They serve on a cost-free and voluntary basis, and are always with others while on duty. Their job is to “convince, not tattle-tale”. The WupperScouts show civil courage and are proactive against vandalism and violence, without putting themselves in danger. The goal of the project is to raise the level of security on the school routes and to improve the atmosphere on buses and trains on a long-term basis.
Well-founded training is the key instrument to enable children to exert a positive influence on the behaviour of their fellow students. The mobility advisors of the Wuppertal transport company, together with officers of the department for security and crime prevention of the Wuppertal police, intensively train the WupperScouts over a period of several weeks. The students learn the key aspects of non-violent conflict resolution, to a certain extent on a theoretical basis, but predominately through role-play. |
A neutral stance, as well as active listening skills, consciously employed body language and self-assurance are all required of the children.
ConclusionsThe project was first introduced on March 1, 2004 at the Erich Fried comprehensive school in Wuppertal Ronsdorf. Fifteen students were trained as WupperScouts. In November 2004 the second training session began at the above-named school with students in the ninth grade.
In addition, the project is scheduled to be introduced in a second school in Wuppertal in early 2005, and a third school has already expressed a strong interest in the project. The WupperScouts that have been trained so far are firmly committed to the project and rate it very highly. They report that the assignment is fun and that they are learning how to treat one another fairly and with mutual respect.
Further Information: Wuppertaler Stadtwerke AG
AuthorSylvia Schmid
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