The Cool School Story

Cool School: Where Peace Rules is an interactive computer game designed to teach children about conflict resolution in a lively, fun, entertaining, and developmentally appropriate context. It was developed by interactive gaming veteran F.J. Lennon, whose credits in the industry include projects for the Walt Disney Company, Sesame Street, and Mattel. Cool School evolved from the technology-based youth initiative program at the FMCS, which was a congressionally funded effort to combat school violence and bullying by teaching conflict resolution skills in at-risk schools

“I enthusiastically recommend this program for all educators, teachers, counselors, and professionals working with children, because it uniquely enables children to teach themselves and one another about social skills, such as negotiation, compromise, and empathy,” said Professor Melanie Killen, associate director of the Center for Children, Relationships and Culture at the University of Maryland.  “This game provides children with a positive alternative to the violent images that pervade the video game world. In contrast, this game teaches social skills, and allows children to learn about foundational social skills in a constructive, socially-positive, school environment.”

Developed with funding from the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS),  in conjunction with the agency’s youth initiative, and cooperation with child development programs at the University of Maryland, the University of Southern California and the University of North Texas.