Chapter 4 – Social and Problem Solving Skill Development

Peer Mediation

In peer mediation, a cadre of student mediators are taught an interest-based negotiation procedure, along with communication and problem-solving strategies, to help peers settle disagreement without confrontation or violence. Students come to mediation voluntarily, and are guided by peer mediators to move from blaming each other to devising solutions acceptable to all parties. While some peer mediation programs mediate only in informal situations, such as the playground, others bring peer mediators into the classroom to help resolve student disputes. Peer mediation is most often implemented as part of a broader conflict resolution program.

A wide variety of studies have found peer mediation to be a promising strategy for improving school climate over time. The use of peer mediation can substantially change how students approach and settle conflicts:

•Students involved in peer mediation often express a greater willingness to help friends avoid fights and solve problems, and are less likely to believe that certain individuals deserve to be “beaten up.”

•Evidence shows that implementing peer mediation programs can be associated with reductions in fights, office referrals, and school suspensions.

•For the mediators themselves, learning the mediation process has been shown to increase self-esteem, and even improve academic achievement.

Peer mediation is a complex undertaking; success in implementing peer mediation depends in large part on the adequacy of planning, training, and monitoring of the program. A number of logistical decisions must be made before beginning a peer mediation program:

•Which students will be eligible to be mediators, and how will they be chosen?

•Where and when will mediation occur?

–To deal with these and other logistical issues it is probably necessary that there be a facilitator or school team assigned responsibility for planning and implementation.

•Training student mediators in the assumptions and processes of peer mediation is critical

–It has been estimated that initial training of peer mediators requires at least a 12-15 hour commitment.

•Even after peer mediation has been established, ongoing monitoring of the program is essential. Thus, successful programs include weekly or bi-weekly meetings with student mediators to provide ongoing training, and ensure that mediators continue to be enthusiastic and effective.

With adequate attention to the details of planning, training, and follow-up, and implemented as part of a broader school-wide program of violence prevention, peer mediation appears to be a promising tool that can help teach students methods to settle their conflicts without resorting to violence.