 |
| Mediate2go.com: Peer Mediation in Schools |
Start your own peer mediation program with Mediate2go.com. It only takes minutes to get your customized directory page listed, and case management system in place. With a bit of training, you can help improve community and school relations with peer mediation.
 |
| Mediate2go.com: Peer Mediation in Schools |
Programs
for peer mediation in schools started appearing in the United States in the
1970s and are now quite widespread. In Canada, several programs exist as well
by now. One notable example is the project by Institut Pacifique in Quebec. This community-based organization offers schools with a
turnkey program, which includes materials, guides and initial training for
teachers and follow-up support in order to implement their program, called Vers le Pacifique. The program is aimed
at preschool and primary school levels, and it consists of two steps. Before
implementing the peer-mediation program per say, the first step requires the
school to offer conflict resolution workshops to the whole student body, in
order to educate and develop the awareness of all students to peaceful methods
of conflict resolution. Those workshops are given over a full school year.
During the second year of the program, the peer-mediation program is
implemented. Students from grades four to six are chosen according to a
well-crafted process to be trained as mediators, and they rotate to act as
mediators in the school yard for minor conflicts between their peers.
 |
This
program by Institut Pacifique was the object of longitudinal studies by professors at the University of
Montreal. Those studies found that after two years of implementation, the
students exposed to the program developed improved sociocognitive abilities
such as managing emotions, identifying the causes of a conflict and proposing
solutions. After three years of implementation, a significant decrease in
aggressive behaviour on the part of students was observed. Constant efforts to
promote and support the program are needed, however, for the impacts to last
through time.
It is
important to note that these programs do not just aim to teach skills and
techniques; they help build a positive vision of conflicts. Children learn to
use dialogue as an alternative to aggressive behaviour or passivity in the face
of disputes, and they also experience the positive impacts that can come from
this dialogue and collaboration. Accepting conflicts as part of the human
experience and harnessing them in a constructive way is a challenge that we
must all step up to.
Did you
experience peer mediation in your school growing up? Does your children’s
school offer such program? If not, why not look into which local organisation
could offer it in your area?
Start your own peer mediation program with Mediate2go.com. It only takes minutes to get your customized directory page listed, and case management system in place. With a bit of training, you can help improve community and school relations with peer mediation.
Note: A
review of school mediation programs in Québec was published as part of a
collection of articles on the intersection of mediation and youth published in
Europe. Full reference: « La médiation en milieu
scolaire au Québec : un portrait », dans Médiation et Jeunesse, Mineurs et
médiations familiales, scolaires et pénales en pays francophones, sous la
direction de Jean Mirimanoff, Belgique, Larcier, 2013.
|
Other references:
Mediate2go.com Contributor:
Léa Préfontaine holds a bachelor in civil law and common law from McGill University. Prior to her legal studies, she also completed a bachelor in business and a masters in economics. She will be an articling student at the Protecteur du citoyen (Québec Ombudsman) starting in June 2014. Léa is passionnate about dispute resolution and access to justice.
Search: #Peer-Mediation-in-Schools, #starting-a-peer-mediation-program, #mediation-clinic, #community-mediation, #kids-conflict-resolution, #peer-mediation-and-conflict-resolution, #peer-mediators, #peer-mediators-FAQ, #fights-at-school, #community-mediation-case-management
Search: #Peer-Mediation-in-Schools, #starting-a-peer-mediation-program, #mediation-clinic, #community-mediation, #kids-conflict-resolution, #peer-mediation-and-conflict-resolution, #peer-mediators, #peer-mediators-FAQ, #fights-at-school, #community-mediation-case-management
In order to understand each other more efficiently, it's important to develop good comunication skills. I found this tecniques really useful for any type of people, in every scale of power. skills like listening, empathy, acknowledging others feelings and becoming a conflict manager can help us to increase people trust on us as a persona but beyond that on us as leaders on dificult situations. it's a fact, start in early ages is more likely that people it's going to be more aware of their reactions. What about translating and comunicating this skills to people on 17-20 years old? how challenging that could be?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your comments here. Maybe the goal of mediation is to eventually no longer need mediators!
ReplyDeleteExcellent article as well on implementation of peer mediation program in Sarasota, FL. can be viewed on line at www.conflictperspectives.org
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important factors contributing to the ongoing success of the program is administrative and institutional support.
Please feel free to contact me at www.DrDeri.com
Lead Trainer Sarasota World Affairs Council
New College
Sarasota, Fl.