Keeping the Peace

It’s no longer just the national news that reports stories of peacekeeping attempts or conflict negotiations. Peace is being sought and achieved right here in Northfield, at Greenvale Park Elementary School, thanks to a conflict negotiation tool called “The Peace Path”.

 The Peace Path first came to Greenvale three years ago, after principal David Craft heard about a similar idea from his sister-in-law. The educational assistants at the time had requested professional development activities in playground supervision, and the Peace Path seemed like the perfect fit. 

The Peace Path is a colorful maze painted on the school playground that students can use for problem solving when a playground conflict arises. Craft says, “Essentially, what it teaches children is self-advocacy and self-discipline…in solving their conflicts or difficulties or disagreements.” The Peace Path provides a realistic model for students to follow to resolve issues independently. The staff and students are trained yearly how to use the Peace Path, which looks multi-colored wheel twelve feet in diameter, and includes six different levels. Each level requires different action and serves a unique purpose:

Level One - Both students state their problem

Purpose: Introduce the issue

Level Two - Students state their feelings one at a time

Purpose: Students feel validated

Level Three - Students state the other’s feelings

Purpose: To know they’ve been listened to

Level Four - Brainstorm ideas for how to solve the problem

Purpose: Work together

Level Five - Agree on the best solution

Purpose: Find common ground

Level Six - Shake hands and move on!

Throughout the process, students move closer towards the center of the Peace Path and to each other, symbolizing that they are moving closer to a solution to the problem.

Since the introduction of the Peace Path, playground supervisors have reported fewer conflicts and a significant decrease in tattling. Sounds like the adult world could benefit from the Peace Path as well!