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Peer
Mediation
The Peer Mediation program provides a means of nonviolent conflict resolution for students, and staff to be used for disputes that arise in the school setting. Students are trained as mediators who act as third party neutrals to help disputants reach agreements that are mutually satisfactory. Mediation is a voluntary process; the mediator does not find fault or punish or decide outcomes, but helps parties reach agreements that will allow them to continue their relationship.
Students learn new skills in managing anger and conflict and practice these skills by direct participation in the mediation process. The program also seeks to improve the environment of the school setting by helping students and staff to address and solve the underlying conflicts that often cause rule infractions. The use of mediation can reduce the number of disputes that become violent or hurtful and reduce the amount of staff time spent on discipline. Through the use of student mediation, students learn life-long communication and problem solving skills.
Mediation is an alternative form of dispute resolution which has grown in use in the last 15 years as a result of dissatisfaction with the adversarial process in resolving certain types of disputes, especially those between parties who have an ongoing relationship. in the mediation process, mediators act as third party neutrals who do not impose solutions on the disputants, but remain neutral, non-punitive and non-judgmental. The process allows the parties to:
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Express their feelings and points of view
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Identify their needs
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Clarify the issues
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Understand the other party's view
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Explore solutions
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Reach an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties
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