Conflict among students happens. However, there are ways they can resolve disputes peacefully.
At one Birmingham City school, students are being equipped with conflict resolution skills.
For the last year, students at L.M. Smith Middle School have seen a familiar face. Those who get caught in disputes report to Donald Shepherd's office.
"This is a place where when they need to vent they can," Shepherd said. "It's a place where if they need to just simply talk they can."
Shepherd runs the STRAP organization, which stands for "Stop Throwing Rocks At the Penitentiary."
After serving 15 years in prison, he wanted to prevent young boys and girls from going down the same path. The students spend six to eight weeks with his program.
They meet each day during their elective period to discuss ways to resolve conflict.
"The only thing they need is direction and guidance but the most important thing they need is to know that they're loved and that they're cared about," Shepherd said.
7th grader Willie Whitehead said STRAP is a consistent resource.
"I was getting into conflicts sometimes daily. like getting into little small arguments. getting in trouble in class," Whitehead said.
"Before I started being with STRAP, it goes outside of school and everything it's all around. But before I used to have the mindset like 'oh I'm going to do what I want, I ain't gotta listen to nobody, but STRAP came around and it changed, I understand you got to have structure when it comes to certain things," Whitehead said.
Teachers see the impact.
"The attitudes are much better, they know how to react and avoid getting into conflict and they're able to handle conflicts much better than they used to," Substitute teacher Rev. Gerry Turner Sr. said.
"I've seen students that didn't know how to solve conflict, learn how to solve conflict. Resolve conflict without fighting. Without arguments," 6th grade reading and language arts teacher Erika Cowart said.
Cowart said it's important to have someone who can speak the students' language.
"You have students coming from all walks of life and everybody is not being taught conflict resolution in the home," Cowart said, "So when they get here they have to know how to solve things without being violent without fighting without arguing."
Shepherd said when students know better, they tend to do better.
"One thing I learned about being here, if you give them the tools and show them how to use it they'll use it," he said.
Shepherd said the program also provides groceries and other necessities the student may need at home.
He's now expanding his conflict resolution program to Jones Valley Middle School.