Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Educators from Mercy Academy and Assumption High School, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, were among nearly 300 participants at the 42nd annual Mercy Education Conference. The event took place on October 11-12 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville and focused on addressing fear and violence in classrooms.

The conference theme was "Cultivating Compassion, Nurturing Nonviolence," reflecting one of the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. Dawn Heuglin, a theology teacher at Mercy Academy, highlighted that violence is prevalent in society and even common classroom language can carry violent connotations. She cited terms like "bullet point" as examples.

Heuglin emphasized that students are exposed to violence through news and social media, which creates anxiety they struggle to articulate. The conference encouraged educators to use non-violent communication methods with students. Discussions centered around how language affects people and desensitizes them to its power.

Ernesto Laspiur, a Spanish teacher at Mercy, noted the importance of addressing violence's impact on education. He acknowledged that some expressions might not be suitable for school environments. Laspiur explained that while phrases like "killing it" or "shoot from the hips" may seem harmless, they could affect sensitive students.

The conference also featured presentations on conflict resolution strategies for students. Educators from Santa Ethnea in Argentina shared their school's system for empowering students to resolve conflicts through dialogue. Laspiur remarked that this approach reduces anxiety and helps students recognize common goals without ending friendships over conflicts.

Mary Ann Steutermann, executive director of mission effectiveness at Assumption High School, discussed helping students communicate non-violently about controversial issues such as abortion and immigration. Steutermann pointed out that some students fear discussing politics or heated topics.

Assumption is implementing strategies taught at the conference to teach debate skills and constructive discussions. Steutermann connected these skills to Christian teachings about loving one's neighbor and using positive language in conversations.