Conflict Resolution

Mediation

Peaceful Schools has extensive experience in developing and maintaining school mediation programs for use in interpersonal conflict situations.

Mediation is a voluntary communication process. The process is designed for people (disputants) that are unable to resolve conflicts on their own. Mediation provides a controlled, secure atmosphere and permits each person to tell his or her story. Mediation empowers the disputants to settle their own problems in a mutually satisfying way, instead of having others settle the problem for them.

Mediators are trained to maintain neutrality while they guide the disputants through the process. They do not take sides or try to determine who is right or wrong, they don’t offer solutions or opinions. Instead, mediators listen to both sides, and facilitate open, effective communication and problem solving, and record solutions into a written agreement.

The goal of mediation is to identify the issues underlying the conflict and establish a plan to avoid future problems. In school settings students are often referred after an incident attracts the attention of school staff. As a result of participating in the mediation process students are often able to identify specific behaviors and actions that need to be discussed and create a plan to diffuse ongoing problems from reoccurring in the future. Mediation programs encourage students to identify problems early and to take responsibility for trying to find good solutions on their own, however, when students cannot resolve issues on their own then they are advised to make self-referrals and seek guided resolution before the conflict escalates to a disruptive or disciplinary incident.

Schools that have mediation programs in place find that initially teachers and staff make the majority of referrals. Over time as students hear about mediation success stories and increase their understanding of the program, the number of self-referrals increases. Successful mediation programs empower community members to acknowledge individual needs by promoting personal responsibility and creative problem solving. As a result this process contributes to the development of a peaceful school environment.