What is 'Peace School'?
Peace School is part of the paradigm for reforming Ukraine's education system, focusing on renewing approaches and principles of the educational process, implementing inclusive education, pedagogy of partnership and anti-bullying programs, and transitioning to competency-based learning.
The 'Peace School' modelIt is an integrated approach and practical tools for involving all participants in the educational process in building a system of constructive communication and interaction, an effective system for resolving and preventing conflicts, preventing incidents of bullying, aggression and violent behavior in the educational institution, and building resilience.
'Peace School' is based ona restorative approachIt involves building trust and engaging the parties involved in a situation in the process of discussion, decision-making or conflict resolution in order to build understanding, reach consensus and/or create a non-violent environment.
What competencies does Peace School develop?
constructive conflict resolution
building and maintaining relationships
sensitivity to diversity and non-discrimination
self-reflection and resilience
What does Peace School aim for?
'Peace School' aims to create a peaceful, engaged (participatory), inclusive education system in Ukraine, founded on:
who has mutual understanding with all participants in the educational process; builds and maintains constructive relationships with students and parents; is satisfied with their work; feels comfortable and confident; and is resilient to stress and work-related challenges.
who feels safe and comfortable at school; has trusting relationships with the administration, teachers and other students; learns well; has good communication skills; is socially responsible; values personal development, is resilient to stress and connected to their own inner life force (vitality).
that is ready to share responsibility for creating an inclusive and safe school atmosphere with other participants in the educational process; uses 'engaged' management methods; and facilitates the transformation (resolution) of conflicts in a peaceful way.
who communicate with their children and teachers with trust and openness; resolve misunderstandings peacefully; share responsibility for a safe and inclusive school atmosphere, for personal development and for their children's academic success.
What does implementing Peace School in your school involve?
'Peace School' is a daily practice of restorative communication/restorative skills:
- resolving conflicts in a restorative way, using mediation, circles or restorative meetings;
- participatory decision-making;
- recognizing and addressing the emotions and needs of participants in the educational process;
- rejecting violence and bullying;
- creating opportunities to be heard;
- awareness of responsibility for one's actions;
- regular use of restorative language and nonviolent communication
What are the key principles of 'Peace School'?
- Understanding– a conflict can only be resolved by understanding oneself, the other party and the situation that has arisen. The key tool in this process is effective communication. That is why we teach listening, asking the right questions and finding answers to the question 'why?'.
- Respectarises naturally as a consequence of understanding. When we understand the feelings, emotions and behavior of others, we become aware of our inner similarity to them and can therefore find respect for them within ourselves.
- Care– the next stage. These are relationships among members of the school community in which everyone cares for building strong relationships and restoring those that have been damaged in case of conflict.
- Responsibilityin Peace School is closely linked to understanding and means not punishment, but awareness of the consequences of one's actions for others and taking action to make amends.
Adhering to all these principles makes it possible to create an atmosphere in the school oftrust and safety.
