What is Peer Mediation?

 

Student mediators, trained in listening, understanding and respecting, use a problem-solving process to facilitate a communication between their disputing peers, encouraging and empowering them to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement whenever possible.

• The students in a dispute voluntarily meet in a private, confidential session.

• They are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions through expressing their positions and interests, identifying their feelings, and gaining a better understanding themselves and others.

• The peer mediators (usually a pair of students) guides the discussion and fosters a resolution.

• Mediation can provide an alternative to discipline imposed by teachers or administrators.

• Peer mediation helps students (both the mediators and the disputants) develop skills to assist them in settling potentially explosive situations in a positive and constructive manner.

 

What are the Benefits of Peer Mediation in Schools?

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• Studies have shown that peer mediation promotes an increased understanding of conflict and conflict management skills which reduces the incidence of negative behaviors and ultimately improves school climate. This in turn increases academic outcomes.

• Peer mediation has also been shown to raise self-esteem and school connectedness. It can help alleviate the sense of disenfranchisement and powerlessness that some students feel. A sense of belonging is a very important factor in preventing violence in our schools.

• National research has shown that approximately 85% of disputes that go through peer mediation are resolved.

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What are the Goals and Objectives of Peer Mediation?

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• Objectives of peer mediation may include reducing the rates of office referrals, suspensions and expulsions; instilling self-awareness and social skills that prepare students to become productive citizens; and empowering students to enhance school climate.Goals typically include:

• Allowing administrators to discipline less often.

• Empowering students to take greater responsibility for solving their own problems.

• Creating higher expectations for students’ ability to solve their own conflicts.

• Providing training and opportunity for learning skills and strategies for dealing with conflict.

• Building a cooperative spirit within the school community to address disputes that interfere with learning.

• Decreasing incidents of aggression, violence and other anti-social behaviors in the school.

• Decreasing biases toward other students based on age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or physical or mental ability.

• Increasing feelings of safety in school.

• Increasing attendance rates, reducing absenteeism, and dropout rates.

• Increasing academic performance.

• Working toward a school having all four social emotional competencies of having a growth mindset, self-efficacy, self-management, and social awareness.