GRACE IN THE FACE OF CONFLICT 2 Abstract The purpose of the study was to determine if consistent and purposeful Grace and Courtesy lessons would result in a decrease in student conflicts and disruptive behaviors. The study was conducted in a private Montessori school in Metropolitan NYC. The subjects were 21 Early Childhood (ages 3 to 6) students. Sources of data included a checklist of Grace and Courtesy lessons, a Zone Map to document places of conflicts/disturbances, and a Redirection/Incident journal documenting redirections and incidents by child, and the lessons given them. The conclusion was that there was not enough time to fully develop what is now understood to be a lengthy and intensive research study. The presence of “outlier” students also detracted from the message the lessons were providing. I will continue to deliver the Grace and Courtesy lessons as planned, and will reapply the same processes at the commencement of the next school year
