Conflict resolution

One way to peacefully resolve conflict is for each side

• to come together voluntarily
• to work cooperatively on the issues
• under the guidance of a trained facilitator

The following process should be under the guidance of a trained facilitator.
Bring your conflicted parties together in a private location, and:

• Gather information: identify key issues without making accusations
  Focus on what the issues are, not who did what
  Do not accuse, find fault, call names
  
• Each party states their position and how it has affected them;
  Others listen attentively and respectfully without interruption
• Each party, in turn, repeats or describes as best they can
  the other's position to the listener's satisfaction
  (c.f. Franklin Covey's fifth habit "Seek first to understand, then to be understood")
  
• Parties try to view the issue from other points of view beside the two conflicting ones
• Parties brain storm to find the middle ground, a point of balance, creative solutions, etc.
• Each side volunteers what he or she can do to resolve the conflict or solve the problem
  
• A formal agreement is drawn with agreed-upon actions for both parties;
• A procedure is identified should disagreement arise
• Progress is monitored
• Progress rewarded or celebrated

Conflict resolution should be a voluntary process that

• reflects the school's values if applied throughout the school
• is also modeled and followed by teachers, administrators, and staff
• will fail if perceived as a process for students only

Each party in collaborative conflict resolution
should feel empowered to speak their mind, feel listened to, and feel they are a critical part of the solution. So also, each is obligated to respect and listen to others, try to understand their point of view; and actively work toward a mutual decision.