Preventing and resolving conflict
Tips for educators
Resources
The value of an apology
Tips for educators
Use of proactive communication in the classroom, including conflict prevention and resolution strategies, is one approach teachers can use to establish a positive learning environment and prevent minor problems from developing into serious conflict. Consistent use of these skills will also promote academic skill development and respectful relationships between students and teachers.
Use of conflict resolution strategies with parents can produce similarly beneficial results — trusting relationships, resolution of issues before they escalate, and increased participation by parents and colleagues in setting up learning environments at home and carrying out learning strategies shared by the school. The result is more opportunities for positive and productive collaboration on behalf of students.
Preventing and resolving potential conflict in the classroom keeps students focused on learning and parents and teachers working together to solve problems as they arise. Preventing and resolving potential conflict in the school building keeps the conflict from being taken to district offices. Resolving potential conflict in the school district keeps the conflict from being taken outside of the district.
To establish proactive communication strategies that promote joint problem solving and minimize conflict, you may:
- Create a shared understanding of information, rights and responsibilities
- Provide clear information on school policies, procedures and rules.
- Provide clear information on classroom expectations.
- Provide clear explanation of the responsibilities of students, parents and the school.
- Offer parent workshops on how to navigate the school system.
- Establish opportunities and protocols for communication
- Establish open lines of communication for parents, with language access for families who speak languages other than English. This includes making staff available at certain times and through phone, e-mail and in-person channels.
- Offer frequent explanation of communication channels in appropriate languages.
- Offer frequent written reports from teacher to parents, or phone calls with interpretation available.
- Train staff to provide proactive and timely response to communications.
- Put decisions and agreements (such as those on timelines, roles and responsibilities of parties, actions to be taken) in writing for all parties.
- Manage conflict to ensure understanding of issues and perspectives
- Deliver prompt and direct response to parent concern(s).
- Take time to listen to all sides of the story so students and parents feel heard and acknowledged.
- Properly identify the issues before trying to solve the problem.
- Explore all possible options before reaching decisions and agreements (if certain issues have mandated solutions and can’t be negotiated, explain to student and parents).
- Explain opportunity and method for appeal of decision, including use of a neutral party as mediator, and check for clear understanding by parents.
- Follow up to check that plan for resolution is in place and is working.
Resources
The Value of an Apology
Sometimes an apology is appropriate. The apology can be made by the student, by the parent or by a member of the school staff. An apology is recognition that the issue could have been handled in a different manner. It is not necessarily an admission of wrong-doing or of responsibility, but a wish that the issue had been resolved in a more proactive mode.
An apology can help “clear the air” and allow positive problem-solving to take place. An apology can help disarm anger or fear. An apology is a start to repairing any harm that may have occurred in the relationship. An apology shows respect and empathy, and this gesture can put the two parties back on an equal footing.
To be effective, an apology must address the needs of the other party and will reflect on the particulars of the issue. While it may include an admission of partial or full responsibility, at a minimum it must be offered sincerely and freely.