Chernihiv educators will implement restorative practices in schools

On September 24, 2019, the regional Forum “Safe and Peaceful School. Formation of a Safe Environment in Educational Institutions” was held in Chernihiv. More than fifty educators and representatives of school self-government of schools in the Chernihiv region joined the event, where they had the opportunity to learn about the experience of implementing projects and initiatives in the field of forming a safe educational environment.

One of the speakers of the Forum, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Patrol Police Department in the Chernihiv Region of the Patrol Police Department,

Alina Palub

shared her experience of the work of School Police Officers in the city of Chernihiv and forms of cooperation between the patrol police and the city community.

“Every day, the administrations of educational institutions of the city ask the School Police Officers to conduct preventive and educational activities for children in schools and kindergartens. As School Police Officers, we conduct interactive activities to explain the Rules of the Road, provide medical assistance, and use basic elements of self-defense,” said

Alina Palub

.

According to the head of programs of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

Kateryna Dankova

, the city of Chernihiv already has positive experience in implementing School Understanding Services as one of the restorative practices of the educational process, which are used in the prevention of adolescent aggression and antisocial behavior among youth.

Such mediation services consist of trained and motivated student mediators who help their peers resolve conflict situations peacefully.

“Currently, our teams are ready to assist schools throughout the Chernihiv region in creating School Mediation Services. Therefore, this Forum should particularly interest and identify those educational institutions that are interested in implementing this institute in their own country,” noted

Kateryna Dankova

.

The Forum participants had the opportunity to watch a short film about the experience of the already created mediation services in 3 pilot schools in Chernihiv, where student mediators talk about their successes and difficulties that arise in the activities of School Mediation Services.

In turn, the deputy director for educational work

Natalia Kolotylo

of gymnasium No. 31 in Chernihiv shared the experience of the functioning of the mediation service created in this institution and the application of restorative approaches in the educational process.

“Of course, there are not only successes in the activities of our mediation service. With the creation of the service, at first there was distrust of student mediators. Many teachers did not believe that anything would come of it. But over time, not only teachers, but also students themselves began to turn to our mediation service for help in resolving conflicts. Personally, I often apply the acquired knowledge and skills in mediation and the “circle” technique in my work as a class teacher. Applying the “peer-to-peer” principle, children begin to open up, which contributes to building trusting relationships,” said Ms. Natalia.

At the end of the event, representatives of school administrations and school self-government of Chernihiv region expressed their proposals and needs for the implementation of joint projects or initiatives, conducting preventive and educational activities in educational institutions of the region.

The project is being implemented


by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the support of the Canadian Foundation for Local Initiatives.