While children and teens experience stress, fear, and anger just like adults do, they often don’t have the tools to manage these tough emotions in healthy and constructive ways. Here at St. John Amelith School, we know that discipline and compassion go hand in hand, and developing conflict-resolution skills helps set students up to become mature, emotionally stable adults.

Structure and accountability are necessary in school settings to maintain safety and foster a productive learning environment. St. John Amelith is committed to setting these clear boundaries and expectations to help students feel supported while also offering opportunities for reflection and repair when behaviors do get out of hand. 

Here are a few ways the staff and learning environment at St. John Amelith help to balance compassion with discipline when addressing concerns at school:

• Disruptive behaviors are first met with compassion before judgment. Staff members are committed to understanding the “why” behind student behavior and to approaching issues from a growth mindset rather than a shaming one, which often leads to positive improvements in the future.

• Addressing problematic behaviors often means prioritizing empathy over punishment and focusing on repair above all. While consequences are enforced for poor behavior, staff members approach conflicts with care and concern, ensuring that students understand exactly what boundaries were violated. From there, students are guided to restore trust through genuine apologies and changed behavior.

• Staff members model healthy problem-solving behaviors in the classroom and with their colleagues, knowing that youth often imitate the behaviors they see around them.

Involving parents in restorative practices can help motivate and support students who may be struggling academically or behaviorally in school. Promoting open communication and transparency with families helps to foster improvements while also ensuring students feel supported to learn, grow, and progress.

• Discipline doesn’t have to be about obedience or submission alone. When youth are taught how to handle conflicts with understanding, assertive communication, and a growth mindset, they become more confident and empathetic adults. St. John Amelith School is committed to cultivating a safe, thriving academic environment where students are treated with Christ-like justice and mercy to minimize the occurrence of unacceptable behaviors.