| Here is a set of questions submitted by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The questions are intended to assist a moderator in de-escalation of debate over a topic. We should rarely have such a problem in our four walls, but at times there are "debates" in the less-structured times of our day. I wonder how effective questions such as these will be in those situations. I think the questions here serve as more than simply de-escalation: I believe they also serve to help people of different points of view stop talking and start trying to understand their opponents better. While a stalemate or a stand-off may not be squelched completely, it is always possible to find some common ground and build from there. I can appreciate the thoughts that went into this list of questions, and I hope that the list will be of some use to us - not just me asking students, but maybe even in teaching students to use such in their own experiences. |  |
Our school uses something called the Wheel of Choices. The Wheel is a tool that students are supposed to use before they go to a teacher with their problems. I've always recognized that "deep, cleansing breaths" is missing from the Wheel, but now I realize that asking questions is also missing. Breathing slowly and deeply might be the most basic of the items that belong on our Wheel of Choices, while deftly utilizing questions to de-escalate a situation will undoubtedly take more skill. Still, I'm willing to try it if it will help develop character skills for my students.
