The headmaster of a Catholic boys’ school in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is betting on a progressive approach to teaching. Through philosophy, he teaches his students how to deal with the country’s complex past as well as their own adolescence.

What is it like to grow up in a city haunted by the remnants of recent conflicts, which still bubble up in street skirmishes to this day? The charismatic headmaster of the Holy Cross Boys’ Primary School believes that while bad things do happen, the key is how we respond to them. Following Plato’s example, he uses discussion as his main teaching tool. He talks with his pupils about anxiety, aggression, and fear, and how to process these emotions with the help of quick philosophical exercises. According to him, young people in Belfast need to understand the past so they can live a better present. But is it really possible to teach children mutual respect in such a divided city?