What follows is the imagined conversation I would have with my Hank, my professor on a course I am taking on conflict resolution and peaceable schools.

Hi Hank.  Thanks for making the effort to come out to visit.  It must have been a really tough for you to give up your time in upstate New York during the winter months to come here, tropical Bangkok.  How about we drop off all that winter clothing in my classroom and then I can show you around.

So as you can see I like my students to have a positive attitude towards learning and I hope that is reflected by the sign on my doorway.

The school itself promotes a community of respect so I have these posters above my board which for me when it comes to classroom management (and beyond) say it all:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you look down the corridor most of the teachers still have posters up from book week where we were asked to share books that just blew us away – this one is from Jenni our head of mathematics.  The students use the stairways so the posters here provide quite an insight into what’s happening.  You can see the big friendship sports tournament is taking place tonight which will bring the whole community together supporting our sports teams.  As does the senior production, which took place earlier this week.  One of our students has produced their own anti-bullying campaign with the support of the counselors   For many years the school has supported students in poor and rural northern Thailand and each Christmas we have a toiletries drive to help provide for even more people in that region.  We also run a trip supporting an orphanage in Tanzania.  Next week there is also Spirit Day where the houses have a lot of fun competing for the cup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The humanities corridor has some great displays that reflect the issues considered within those classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s pop into Kristen’s classroom on the English floor.  There is a lot of color in the room and she really gets the most out of her young (red) houseroom and it really feels they get what it means to be a united as part of a house within the larger school population.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the year 7 houserooms were recently involved in a pastoral service activity were they had to design something which brings more happiness to our school – the smile competition was one such activity.

Service is an embedded requirement within all the International Baccalaureate programmes.  The school also provides additional time and space after school and during i-choice periods.  Today is the Friday before World Aid’s Day so “Dreams that we believe in”, a service group supporting children (including many Aids victims) at a local orphanage, has been raising awareness and funds.

I agree Hank, I am fortunate that there are many positive elements which make my school generally peaceable.  I also know we can still move forward.  I think, although we are getting better, too often we just shake a box and expect donations but the student population’s awareness of sustainable support is still developing. I still do not feel we have a truly representative student council.  I also think an effective student press would both help student develop real world skills and expect greater transparency.