Peer Mediation

Research is clear that exposing children to conflict resolution techniques, which include development of basic communication skills, has a positive impact in how they handle conflict in their everyday. These strategies have a positive effect in how children navigate through conflict in the school and home setting. They also have an impact as to they handle conflicts as adults. With the evidence so overwhelmingly in support of peer mediation programs, Sanchez & Baietto, LLC has spent considerable time researching the concept and has put together a program largely based on existing programs that have been successful around the country.

Peer mediation is a process and a program where students learn how to help other students by facilitating dispute resolution between two people or small groups. This process has proven to be effective in many schools across the United States. The research indicates that when implemented properly, vast majority of incidents referred to peer mediators are resolved without administrative intervention, and teachers report that because they have to handle fewer incidents, they have more time to do their jobs.

Objectives of the Peer Mediation Program

• Educate students in basic problem solving and conflict resolution techniques and strategies.
• Students will be able to understand how the mediation process could be utilized as a way to address, diffuse and bring resolution to high conflict situations.
• Understand the confidential nature of the peer mediation process.
• List the steps of the mediation process and link the concepts to problem solving and conflict resolution techniques.
• Explain benefits and advantages to having a peer mediation program in the school setting
• Prepare students for more difficult conflict situations faced as they matriculate to the high school setting; i.e. bullying, peer pressure, succumbing to social pressures in order to fit in, maintaining family values vs. assimilating peer values.
• Build self esteem and self identity

The training includes the development of basic communication skills such as active listening and clarifying questions, as well as specific techniques to help a student diffuse a potentially volatile situation.

Techniques include: separating oneself from the situation, attacking the problem not the people, focusing on the issue and not personal views, communicating clearly, accepting and respecting differing opinions, and focusing on areas of common agreement. Training techniques such as simulations and problem exercises are extremely helpful toward building these skills. Training is crucial because student mediators must feel competent and comfortable with their roles. Additionally, disputants must feel the mediators are competent and unbiased.

Benefits to a Peer Mediation Program:

• Students will be able to understand and convey that conflict can be used as leverage for change and opportunity to better communicate.
• Students gain insight on communication patterns, actions/interactions & take responsibility in the ways we contribute to conflict.
• Students will gain practical skills for managing conflict. It trains students, starting in third grade, to handle conflict with the goals of growth and opportunity and to step into their classmates’ disputes and help them find peaceful solutions.
• Process is inexpensive and staff-light. Staff will be provided education on implementation of the program with the goal of turning the program completely over to the school within one to two years.

Issues that can be mediated in schools

Social media improprieties

Relationship difficulties or harassments

Rumor and gossiping

• Cheating and stealing
• Prejudice/cultural conflict
• Bullying , minor assaults fighting
• Class rumors
• Extracurricular disputes

This program goes beyond a typical Anti-Bullying program because it embraces a concept of conflict resolution that has been shown in the literature to be an effective tool to teach children how to manage their emotions and to assert themselves in productive ways thus greatly reducing the incidence of destructive conflict. The skills learned in our program will provide students knowledge about how their actions and interactions can contribute to destructive conflict and will empower them with the tools and techniques necessary for effective communication now and in the future.