At this time of year I always remember a conversation I had with one of my mediation heroes, Maija Gray. Maija is an experienced peer mediation coordinator and adjustment counselor at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton, MA. I was saying how impressed I was with her program's campaign to educate the school about mediation effort that included creative posters and student presentations. Maija responded, with just a little exasperation: "And we can never rest on our laurels as far as outreach is concerned. We have to do this year after year."… read this issue >>

The following situation was submitted to The School Mediator last month. Some details were changed to protect the identity of the school. I am a school counselor and have coordinated a peer mediation program in my high school for four years. We have had a great run, and the administration sincerely feels that peer mediation is one of the best programs we have ever implemented.… read this issue >>

I employ four criteria to determine whether a peer mediation program is peak-performing and/or "mature." Formulated using common sense and intuition born of many years helping schools implement these programs, I share them here to continue the dialogue about raising the standards of our field.… read this issue >>

I have been thinking about the ongoing challenge of generating administrative support for peer mediation. Last month I discussed the status of a mediation program with the educator who had implementing it. His program-based in a middle school of approximately 800 students-had conducted 30 mediations sessions during its first year of operation.… read this issue >>

Biomimicry is a "new science that studies nature's models and then imitates nature's designs to solve human problems, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf." The concept of peer mediation has always seemed elegantly designed to me, as if it too were based on fundamental natural principles.… read this issue >>

I live near ground zero in the debate over what has come to be called "gay marriage." Last week, people from across the US and representing both "sides" of this issue squared off outside the Massachusetts State House — 4 miles from where I sit. … read this issue >>

As I have discussed in a previous issue of this newsletter, outreach is an essential and ongoing activity of any successful peer mediation program. Its major goals are to:
* Educate students and staff about peer mediation
* Build the school community's trust and confidence in your program
* Continually remind potential parties and referral sources that peer mediation services are available… read this issue >>

I recently helped a group of experienced mediators develop a plan to educate their peers about mediation. As we explored the reasons why students might hesitate to try mediation, a girl named Sasha boldly admitted: "I would never go to peer mediation myself." I used to be surprised when mediators said things like this; by now, however, I have heard such comments too often to be surprised.… read this issue >>