Equipping Educators: Addressing Classroom Conflicts Through Reflective Practice and Workshop Insights

In today’s increasingly complex world, educators often find themselves navigating sensitive and controversial topics and situations which can lead to conflict or tense atmosphere in the classroom. These situations can be triggered by classroom dynamics or generated by the changing conditions in the external environment. Whether it’s the reflection of the global or national events, or a sensitive theme in the reading list, a strained atmosphere between the students feeling out of control and reaching a peak point, or you as a tutor feeling uncomfortable for various reasons. This paper will focus on a workshop organised by the authors at Maastricht University in winter 2025 to discuss and exchange ideas with their colleagues regarding the above-mentioned topics. The intended objectives of the workshop have been designed as: • to identify common difficult and conflict situations in the classroom. • To examine the difference between a disruptive behaviour/pattern and a normal/healthy disagreement. • To learn effective strategies for managing and resolving conflict and maintaining a positive learning and teaching environment. • To practice conflict resolution and mediation techniques through role-play and case studies. The paper will reflect on the results of the workshop by paying special attention to the methodological, normative, ethical and practical issues in a critical and reflective manner. How well are the educators equipped to manage conflictual situations in the classroom and in the school? What problems and issues are anticipated or faced by the educators? What are the new challenges that educators face nowadays? How should all these be addressed on individual, social, and institutional levels? In doing so, this paper tries to search for answers to discuss the potentials and limitations of our educational capabilities and ways to increase effectiveness as well as harmony, respect and tolerance in the classroom.