LD started its Peer Mentor Program at Faraday Elementary School by accident. On March 18th, LD was poised to begin its Peer Motivation Program at the neighboring Marshall High School. But that school was hit with a \u201cdouble whammy.\u201d Chicago Public Schools determined that it would have to administer the federally mandated Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Test, adding a new layer of testing to a system already burdened by testing mandated by CPS, the State of Illinois, and college admissions. On March 13th, I went to Marshall to meet with teachers to select students for the program. Instead, at the entrance stood a crowd of television cameras, news reporters, police, school security and students. The media needed to film reactions to the sports brawl and suspensions at both schools. School security stood at the doorway. No media or visitors without a prior appointment approved by the principal would be admitted. The political campaign for the Mayor was in full swing. The school was in crisis control. When I met with the principal it was clear, LD would not be able to do Peer Motivation this semester. \u201cTesting is our priority. Call us in June; Freshman Connections could be a possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
With this in mind, I scheduled a meeting with the Dean of Students at Faraday Elementary School located directly behind Marshall. We agreed to a partnership. Life Directions initiated groups with 8th graders on April 15th. Three (3) adult mentors helped to facilitate three groups with twenty-nine (29) students. We used the Focolare Cube of Peace at the beginning of each group activity to select a positive value to live that day, especially during group interactions.<\/p>\n
Our first discovery was that 8th graders preferred The Company Cube over the Cube of Peace. This was interesting in itself since the Focolare developed the Cube of Peace for elementary school classrooms:<\/p>\n
The Cube of Peace systematically teaches students and adults to focus on the positive: to respect differences, overcome difficulties and solve problems. Those who use the Cube build a sense of community within their educational setting that increases self-esteem and respect for others who are different from them. Incidents of bullying and behavior problems decrease, and students become more mindful and reflective of their behavior. It fosters an environment that maximizes learning and helps students become co-builders of peace.1<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\nFor the 8th graders at Faraday, this felt a little contrived. Anti-bullying language is part of the discipline code, special non-academic programs, and hallway \u201cadvertising.\u201d So when The Cube of Peace was rolled to \u201cTreat each person with respect\u201d our classroom comedian rose to the occasion, using his best \u201cEuro-American therapist\u2019s voice\u201d he parroted the \u201cright\u201d response. \u201cWe need to respect ourselves then we will know how to respect others.\u201d His classmates giggled since his answer was for the adults in the room and not for himself or his peers.<\/p>\n
The next week I had an inspiration. I had been studying The Company Cube for a presentation to adults as a \u201cnew way of doing business.\u201d The light bulb went off. What if I used The Company Cube with the 8th graders? Many were already interested in applying for \u201capprenticeships\u201d with After School Matters. Others had been part of sports teams. Some were even interested in being entrepreneurs. The Company Cube may have been developed to ignite the \u201cnew small business revolution\u201d but I could see it working equally as well with middle and high school students.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of the next session I introduced The Company Cube. \u201cI know you are interested in jobs. I also know that many of you have already learned to be team players. So what I brought something new for today. It\u2019s The Company Cube designed by a businessman, and is used by companies that desire excellence in persons for the good of all. If each person can fulfil his or her potential the results ripple into the wider world, interweaving of interpersonal relationships that \u201csee\u201d the good in everyone. Its six values are simple. If you practice them they will help you to find a job and keep a job. The key values are (1) BUILD relationships every day (2) SHARE expertise, time, yourself (3) FIRST to help others (4) SUPPORT with actions, not just words (5) VALUE every person, every idea and (6) COMPETITORS can be friends too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the groups started, a student would roll The Company Cube. Another volunteered to read it from the worksheet2<\/sup>. In turn, facilitators encouraged their students to live it in the present moment, and challenged those not keeping the value in their interactions. Repetition and examples helped to learn the values. When one group rolled \u201cFIRST to help others\u201d and reported back \u201cSome of us might not have jobs this summer. But each of us can be the \u2018FIRST to help others.\u2019 So our group named two people we could help and how we could help them\u201d I knew we were on to something. The groups were listening and answering for themselves!<\/p>\nOn the last day of our program, Paulina Sennett of Safety Communications, an Economy of Communion company, joined us. She shared how The Company Cube had helped her company and made a presentation on the importance of job safety for teens. Her experiences gave life to the discussion. Near the end of our time together, Paulina asked, \u201dWhat can you do to make sure you are never fired from your job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWork hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBe on time\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what you\u2019re told!\u201d they said in rapid succession.<\/p>\n
In the back of the room, ever so slowly, one of Chicago\u2019s best basketball prospects raised his hand. \u201cWe can start our own businesses\u201d he said softly, not quite sure of his answer.<\/p>\n
Paulina beamed, \u201cYou\u2019re exactly right!\u201d Now it was his turn to beam so pleased to have the right answer that was his.<\/p>\n
[1]<\/sup> The Cube of Peace: A Teaching Tool that Reduces Bullying and Promotes Unity, p. 3.<\/p>\n[2]<\/sup> The Company Cube: The New Small Business Revolution, pp. 3-4, 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LD started its Peer Mentor Program at Faraday Elementary School by accident. On March 18th, LD was poised to begin its Peer Motivation Program at the neighboring Marshall High School. But that school was hit with a \u201cdouble whammy.\u201d Chicago Public Schools determined that it would have to administer the federally mandated Partnership for Assessment … Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-share","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nMy Experience with the Company Cube at Faraday Elementary School - El Cubo de la Compa\u00f1\u00eda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thecompanycube.org\/share\/faraday-elementary-school\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"My Experience with the Company Cube at Faraday Elementary School - El Cubo de la Compa\u00f1\u00eda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"LD started its Peer Mentor Program at Faraday Elementary School by accident. 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