The Peace Path

We solve our problems in room 33 by using the peace path. We got to it today because many students wanted it, but we had to have it early during math time so not to conflict with the activity time at the end of the day. Juggling the schedule is a daily mind boggling event. Here's how the peace path works: anyone who has a problem can take it to the class council. We pick names from a tin box to take turns with conflicts. If you have no conflict, you say pass.

We begin with a recital of the rules including hand signs: no put downs, no gossip, right to pass, active listening. Everyone does this in chorus. Emily was the mediator, and I assisted since Joshua was out. Anytime we named someone who had a problem, they'd step up to the path. The wronged child stands on red, the defendant stands on blue. "I feel bad when you're mean" said the newbie to the peace path. "That won't do," said I, "You haven't told us what mean is! You need exact words."
"I don't get it." "Well, what was so mean, tell me what he did." Then the story comes out. O has been a bit of a show off to his friend. "That's a put down! When you say, 'I can do it better than you,' you'll hurt someone's feelings." I steer them through their agreement.

"You've agreed to be kinder to your friend, can you keep that as a promise?" so asks the mediator as we step through the conflict.
"Does that solve the problem?"
"Shake hands, and exit in peace."
When Bella and Sofia step up to the peace path, there's a murmur - "but their best friends!"
"And they want to stay best friends," I remind them. "The peace path is a good place to work out anything with your best friend. It's not a bad thing, it's a good thing!"
"Oh, now I get it!" exclaimed O, "It's for talking about things."

And so we go, step by step, facing the small concerns one item at a time.