"In a way, it's a microcosm of what we're seeing on the world, national and state level," Mantooth said. "We see, 'I'm not going to budge. I don't care if there's gridlock.' It's devolving into a tribal mentality."

Kline has been interested in setting up a peer mediation program at Las Colinas for a while, so when he heard about the Peer Mediation Jamboree, he arranged to put the school on the schedule.

"It not only gives them confidence, it helps them be peaceful," Kline said. "This (peer mediation) is much more effective than hearing it from an adult."