Conflict resolution added to elementary curriculum

Most of the time schools focus on teaching students reading, writing and arithmetic, but soon a different skill set may be added to the curriculum. Mike Corleto -- known as Mr. C by the students at Supply Elementary -- is bringing a new focus to elementary education. "We are doing conflict resolution," Corleto said. "We've just completed the anger management of the curriculum and we are going into the classrooms." Corleto is working with the Mental Health Association of North Carolina to bring a new program called "Healthy Minds, Healthy Children" to elementary students across Brunswick and Pender County. "It's a pilot program and we hope the kids are going to be able to use it for the rest of their lives," Corleto said. The program has five parts: social skills, anger management, self esteem, conflict resolution and stereotyping. Corleto said, "We're trying to do some prevention and get the children to use these tools either in the home, or on the playground." And it looks like his classes are making an impact. One student said, "He teaches us how to control our angry." This lesson focuses on anger management. Corleto said, "With the conflict resolution program we have three tools we've enacted. It's called ACT. A means get away, C means calm down, and the T is for talk about it later." If the program is successful Corleto says the Mental Health Association will likely be given another grant so the classes will be available again next year. Mr. Corleto plans to have the Healthy Minds, Healthy Children lessons reach at least 1,000 kids this semester.