International College Hong Kong embraces nonviolent resistance (NVR) to build a culture of relativity

Many figures throughout history have brought about great change while resisting oppression and evil. In the 20th century, Gandhi, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King all used nonviolent resistance (NVR) to oppose sociopolitical issues and bring about change. First applied to children’s behavior in the 1990s by Professor Haim Omer, NVR is a caregiver-centered, relational approach used to address destructive behavior within schools and homes.

Having gained popularity in Europe, the model has caught on in Hong Kong where, during the pandemic, students have experienced severe disruptions to their learning, routines and social relationships. To cope, many have developed a heavy addiction to screen time and technology. It’s no secret that this has left a mark on schools and families, leaving many parents and teachers wondering how to effectively manage difficult behavior in children.

In an educational context, the goal of NVR is to develop positive authority among teachers and staff, adopting effective strategies to address challenging behavior among students, while avoiding sanctions and escalation.

“Parents need good advice and guidance and, when things risk temporarily spiraling 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 director of International College of Hong Kong (ICHK).

ICHK is founded on the belief that young people should be supported in the development of their character, including, but not limited to, academics. “At ICHK, we do not have strict rules. There’s a rule: ‘work hard and be kind,’” Newton says.