International College Hong Kong adopts non-violent resistance (NVR) to build a culture of relatability
With a focus on inclusion and community, schools like ICHK are adopting NVR strategies to foster student trust and reduce conflict
Many figures in history have instigated great change while resisting oppression and harm. In the 20th century, Gandhi, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King all used non-violent resistance (NVR) to object to sociopolitical problems and bring about change. First applied to the behaviour of children in the 1990s by Professor Haim Omer, NVR is a caregiver-centred, relational approach used to respond to destructive behaviours within schools and homes.
Having gained popularity in Europe, the model has made its way to Hong Kong where, during the pandemic, students experienced severe disruptions in learning, routines and socialising. To cope, many developed a heavy reliance on screen time and technology. It is no secret that this has left a mark on schools and families, leaving many parents and teachers struggling with how to effectively handle challenging behaviours in children.
In an educational setting, the purpose of NVR is to develop a positive authority among teachers and staff, adopting effective strategies to address difficult behaviour in pupils, while avoiding punishment and escalation.
“Parents need good advice and guidance and, when things risk getting temporarily out of control, interventions like NVR, which draw on the strength of wider communities of mutually supportive adults, can make all the difference,” says Toby Newton, executive head of International College HK (ICHK).
ICHK is grounded in the conviction that young people should be supported in developing their character, including but not confined to academics. “At ICHK, we don’t have strict rules. There’s one rule: ‘work hard and be nice’,” explains Newton.
