Teach kids how to resolve conflicts peaceably, as opposed to allowing them to try and figure it out on their own. Give advice in the classroom on downplaying the importance of “saving face” when the consequences could be overwhelming. This will have a twofold effect to it.
#1 In school violence will be affected if children are already prepared on how to resolve issues with their peers. Children that can feel safe and comfortable with their abilities to be able to resolve conflicts when they arise, allows them to be able to better focus on their studies while promoting a more peaceful social environment.
#2 When the children who have been educated on self control of their behavior enter the “adult world,” they will be better equipped to handle directing the future of this country in a more peaceful direction. This allows all of us to focus our efforts (read money) not just to destruction. Which, let’s face it, is all war does. If instead of spending the billions on war, it was spent on say, heart disease prevention, then we might be able to save 100’s of thousands of lives in this country alone.
This is a first step, but perhaps the most important.
Steve Lochner for Congress 