On the Saturday when the conflict in Iran erupted, several families from the Avenor community found themselves stranded in the region with their children after flights were cancelled and the airspace was closed.
For our community, the event was not just an international news story. It was a situation that affected us directly: colleagues and friends near the conflict zone, parents trying to return home, messages and phone calls conveying concern.
When students arrived at school, the questions had already grown louder:
“Why can’t planes fly?”
“Is anyone from our class affected?”
“Who started it?”
“Why is this happening?”
Students came to school already emotionally and informationally charged after a weekend in which, at home, on television and across social media, almost all conversations had revolved around this topic.
Discussions emerged spontaneously — during breaks, in the corridors, at the beginning of lessons and, sometimes, even during class.
In moments like these, the role of the school is not to ignore reality, but to turn it into an opportunity for learning.
“When important events take place on the international stage, it is important to bring them into the classroom so that students can understand the relevance of what they study. In such moments, History becomes a tool for understanding the present,” says Richard Thomason, Head of Secondary and Teacher of History at Avenor College.
Conceptual Understanding: Why Learning Needs to Be Anchored in Reality
At Avenor, we know — including from research in Cognitive Science — that learning becomes lasting when it is connected to reality and to students’ authentic questions.
In Avenor’s educational model, the focus is not only on the accumulation of information, but on Conceptual Understanding — the ability of students to grasp the big ideas behind facts and to use them to interpret the world around them.
At the same time, we do not need to wait for global crises to talk about fundamental themes. Conflict is one of these themes, and the concepts surrounding it are addressed throughout the curriculum in ways that are consistent and age-appropriate.
For example:
– in History, students analyse the causes and consequences of conflicts throughout time;
– in Literature, they discuss characters facing extreme situations and difficult moral choices;
– in PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education), they explore how conflicts can be managed at both a personal and social level;
– through Debate and critical analysis, they learn to look at the same situation from different perspectives.
These experiences gradually build a framework for understanding.
As a result, when real-world events occur — such as the current conflict or the war in Ukraine — conversations do not start from scratch. Students already have the vocabulary and the practice of dialogue.
When Reality Enters the Classroom
Today’s students have access to numerous sources of information, and not all of them are reliable.
”The role of teachers and of the school is to create a space where students can ask questions, compare information and transform their initial emotional reactions into a process of understanding.
In these conversations, teachers help students analyse the historical context of conflicts, compare different perspectives and recognise that reality is often more complex than the headlines seen on social media.
In lower secondary History classes, students study conflicts through case studies such as the two World Wars, the geopolitical balance of the Cold War or international peace negotiations. Treaty simulations and role-play activities help them understand the interests of different parties involved and the difficulty of finding balanced solutions.” – says Georgiana Socoliu, Teacher of History, Deputy Head of Secondary.
When Understanding Leads to Action
Within the Avenor community, learning adapts when current events become relevant to students.
For example, when the war in Ukraine began, the school organised an Assembly dedicated to the international context and to ways the community could support affected families.
The conversation did not stop at explanation. Initiatives proposed by students soon followed: collection campaigns, messages of solidarity and support projects.
In such situations, emotions are not left unprocessed. They can become a form of responsible action.
From Questions to Empathy
In primary school, conversations about complex topics follow a different rhythm and use a different language.
When conflicts arise in the world, primary students are not looking for geopolitical explanations; they seek safety and meaning. Their questions are simple and direct: “Why are people fighting?” or whether other children are safe.
“Our role is to use these moments as opportunities for learning and reflection, using language that is accessible and appropriate for their age. We do not avoid complex topics, but we approach them carefully, placing children’s emotional safety first. Instead of entering political or geopolitical details, we guide the discussion toward values such as solidarity, empathy and responsibility toward others,” explains Ramona Mucenic, Acting Head of Primary.
Through such conversations, students do not receive only information. They gradually build a moral compass and learn that understanding another person’s perspective is essential for a healthy community.
Beyond Information: Understanding and Learning
As students grow, the conversations evolve with them.
In primary school they learn to recognise emotions and to listen. In lower secondary and high school they begin to analyse sources, compare perspectives and observe how the same piece of information can be interpreted in different ways.
The goal of these conversations is not simply for students to be informed. The real aim is to develop young people who are able to think critically, understand nuance and participate responsibly in society.
At Avenor, we believe that education means more than preparing students for exams. It means preparing them for the real world.
And when students’ questions are genuine, one of the most important lessons is learning together how to understand them.
