We understand that things happen that might prevent you from attending a workshop for which you are registered. Your cooperation in honoring your registration at our free workshops is essential. Peer Mediation Peer mediation is not the same as conflict resolution. To be the first to learn about upcoming trainings, sign up for our educator email list. What Is Peer Mediation? What attendees had to say…. The visit from student peer mediators helped bring alive this must-have program. I want to come back for more training classes after this experience.
The approaches presented were attainable, rewarding and effective. The materials provided will definitely be implemented in our program! It was so refreshing to attend a practical professional development session. Everything taught would improve the overall school climate. Research has identified numerous benefits as accruing from peer mediation programs, particularly among students in the lower grade levels.
Schools with effective peer mediation programs report fewer physical fights among students and an overall reduction in disciplinary problems. Peer mediators also benefit from participating in peer mediation, in that they gain peer mediation knowledge and gain self-confidence.
Peer mediation has its critics, however. Some contend that peer mediation does not solve all conflicts and that peer mediators end up addressing only easily resolvable conflicts. Critics also claim that peer mediators and teachers, including those supervising mediators, typically receive inadequate training a few hours, if that much. Another criticism levied against peer mediation programs is that peer mediators often end up being disliked by their peers, who see them as rule enforcers.
For peer mediation to work, mediators must be viewed as impartial, which is not always the case given that mediators are part of peer hierarchies and friendship networks.
Most research suggests that such programs produce little to no educational benefit for disputants. Another criticism is that some disputants participate in peer mediation sessions to avoid punishment; thus they may go through the motions and sign an agreement when, in fact, the conflict was not actually resolved. Researchers have found numerous impediments to successful implementation of peer mediation programs.
Some students are reluctant to participate in peer mediation because they are not informed, or are ill informed, about what peer mediation is and how it works. If they do understand peer mediation, some students do not seek out peer mediators because they do not trust that their privacy will be respected and worry that what they say during peer mediation sessions will not remain confidential. Also, students may choose to choose to deal with their own problems and may prefer revenge over mediation.
Students who are passive may be unwilling to seek out peer mediators to help them resolve a conflict. Some impediments have to do with school climate and issues related to peer mediation programs. Many teachers do not consistently use conflict resolution and peer mediation strategies; that is, conflicts between school staff and with students may not be resolved using mediation approaches.
Lack of ongoing training for teachers and peer mediators has also proved to be a challenge. Fewer students choose to participate in peer mediation when peer mediators are not as diverse as the student population at a school.
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