Friendship, Fairness, and Justice in School

This article highlights the primal concern of children at home and in school: knowing where safety lies in relationships of fairness. The article includes scenes where five-year-old children experience breaches in fairness and the framework commonly used to restore and maintain it. The work of Vivian Gussin Paley, the renowned early childhood teacher and writer, is introduced because she offers an unusual way of approaching moments of unfairness, one that engages children in solving problems. Children want a fair resolution without adults resorting to punishment and admonishments. They wish for someone to listen to what worries them, ask them questions, and discuss difficulties with the group. Such classroom opportunities cultivate the children’s awareness of how democratic decision-making works as they grow up in school.