Safety Issues for Middle Schools

Peer Mediation in Middle Schools

Summary of Topic:
Peer Mediation is a program that is designed to promote cooperative equitable relationships among adolescents. The program, if implemented correctly, can provide a more effective method of discipline then suspension, and can reduce violence, vandalism, and absenteeism.

The process of peer mediation is designed to help students learn how to:
~ Defuse conflict, manage anger, and communicate
~ Share their feelings in a positively structured way
~ Listen to other people’s feelings
~ Self-sufficiently cope with their own problems

If implemented correctly peer mediation can help a school to meet the Turning Points 2000 recommendations of an ideal middle school. It helps students learn communication skills that are reverent to their lives both in and out of the classroom. It also prepares students to achieve at higher levels so that they can become life long learners. The program helps the school create a caring and intellectual climate with supportive relationships throughout the school. It also allows students to feel as if they are taking part in the school to help create a safe and healthy environment for all the students in the school. If the school chooses, the program can also include community members and parents to allow the students access to work with adults other then faculty.

5 Key Ideas:
-Point One: Why Peer Mediation Works?
-Point Two: Steps for Implementing a program (list taken from www.csmp.org/peermed/steps.htm)
-Point Three: How Does the Actual Peer Mediation Process Work?
-Point Four: Making Peer Mediation Something the Students Want
-Point Five: Is there any doubt this program won’t work?

Links and Books:
Click here for a list of website links and books used while researching for information to use on this site.