How to resolve school conflicts? Start with the heart

I recently read in this newspaper about a student-teacher dispute at Basin’s 1895-founded elementary school, which led to firings and may have helped precipitate the school board decision to shut down. I can’t comment on that, having no knowledge of the specifics.

But as a retired educator of 30-plus years I am deeply familiar with school conflicts — and how to resolve them. I know firsthand that pretty much every student, parent, and teacher, at one point or another in their school journey, faces a moment of tension, disagreement, or unhappiness that tests the relationships on which education depends.

The best solution is often simple communication. But there’s a great deal more to it than that.