Peer Mediation

Peer mediation helps young people resolve disputes without violence. Too often, young people believe their only choices are to give in or to fight. Mediation permits young people in dispute to try to resolve the disagreement with the help of a mediator.

Peer mediation programs use peers, or other young people, as the mediators. Mediation is a process of resolving disputes in which the mediator helps the parties talk through the problem, think about alternatives, and if possible, find a resolution. The mediator does not make decisions for the parties, but does help the parties consider what to do. The key to mediation is self-determination - the youth with the problem resolve the problem.

Peer mediation is one of many ways of helping young people learn how to resolve conflicts. These are life-long skills. Other ways to help youth learn to resolve conflicts are:

• learning about emotions and anger management;
  
• learning about I-messages;
  
• learning to listen;
  
• learning vocabulary words to express emotions and to talk about disagreements;
  
• learning to negotiate.

Many of these lessons are taught in Language Arts, Health, Homeroom and Life Skills programs, work prep programs, and other places in the school curriculum.

Further social studies, history, civics, and English literature courses are great places to further students' understanding of the theory of conflict and alternative ways to handling disputes. For example, students might mediate between the families of Romeo and Juliet or try using shuttle diplomacy between the American colonists and English throne.

The School of Law of Southern Illinois University offers free training to schools in the counties of Jackson, Union, Williamson, Franklin, and occasionally other area counties. The service trains youth to be mediators or introduces youth to conflict resolution concepts. These programs are conducted by law students who have been trained at the School of Law. Programs can be scheduled during the school day, after school, or on Saturdays, but must be coordinated with the schedules of law students, who have required attendance expectations.

The typical program to train youth to be peer mediators is usually 6-hours. The ADR Clinic asks schools to copy materials for the children and to re-imburse us for travel if possible. There is no cost for the training, thanks to a grant from the Attorney General of Illinois Crime Prevention program.

If interested, call (618) 453-3257 and ask for the law student coordinator for peer mediation programs. Click here for more infomation.

Area schools with peer mediation programs include:

• Giant City
  
• Unity Point
  
• Herrin Middle School

Schools interested in other aspects of conflict resolution education might contact these resources:

• National Center for Conflict Resolution Education
  Offers conferences, workshops, consultations, etc.
  www.nccre.org

P.O. Box 17241
Urbana IL 61803
(217) 384-4118
info@resolutioneducation.com

• Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation Research Project
  Conflict resolution curriculum and peer mediation training materials
  www.coe.ufl.edu/CRPM/CRPMhome.html
  
  
• Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management
  For guidance on establishing conflict resolution programs in schools
  www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov/schools.htm
  
  
• United States Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
  For publications to establish programs
  www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org