I recently received this email from a peer mediation coordinator: We have some very talented student mediators who recently got into trouble at school. Although the violation was not hurtful toward others, it was a blatant violation of our code of conduct. We believe that the students need to be removed from the team because they can no longer be considered positive role models. However, our population is smaller than most public schools and the pool of mediator candidates is significantly less. Does anyone see a way where these students can maintain their Peer Mediator status without sending the wrong message to other students? Thank you very much!… read this issue >>

As I approach the end of my 20th year at School Mediation Associates, I find myself wondering: How has peer mediation managed to hold my interest for so long? Part of my longevity is attributable to finding ways to keep the work interesting, be it growing the organization, coaching our wonderful trainers, writings books, refining our training program, or publishing this newsletter.… read this issue >>

Maria Goode, a junior, was selected by her coach to start on the girls basketball team instead of a more popular senior named Rochelle Bostwhistle. This led to ongoing and hurtful harassment of Ms. Goode, presumably carried out by her teammates as well as other students. The school administration has not been effective in stopping the harassment. The peer mediation coordinator wondered whether and how to intervene.… read this issue >>

These days, I can't get enough of the new field known as "Restorative Practices." Restorative Practices is inspired by the values and principles of Restorative Justice, a world-wide social movement to institutionalize peaceful approaches to address harm, solve problems, and uphold legal and human rights.… read this issue >>

During a peer mediation training at East Boston High School last week, a number of students bristled at our standard recommendation that mediators create and enforce ground rules. Lest you assume we have a book full of rules, you should know that we suggest that mediators ask parties to agree to follow only two rules as a requirement to participate in the process: no putdowns and no physical violence. (Many peer mediation models have more ground rules.)… read this issue >>

A caring relationship is a powerful thing. Consider this: In 2001, a small group of boys were planning a violent rampage at their Massachusetts high school, one they hoped would be even deadlier than the Columbine High School massacre that had occurred a few years previous. Using a cache of bomb- making materials, knives, and handguns, they were going to kill as many "jocks, preps, thugs and faculty" as they could.… read this issue >>

There is one class of school-based conflicts that consistently fly over the radar of most peer mediation programs: those that involve adults. For the most part, this is by design. Peer mediation's primary focus is on empowering students to resolve their own conflicts.… read this issue >>

Educators use many programs to improve school climate. As far as I can tell, these programs are branches from the same tree. They all strive to make schools: Safe, by preventing and protecting students from harm, and repairing harm when it does occur; and Caring, by encouraging adults and young people to develop positive, supportive connections with one another.… read this issue >>

"If all the statisticians in the world were laid head to toe, they wouldn't be able to reach a conclusion."  Anonymous It was great to receive so many responses to the "State of Peer Mediation 2011" Survey. Ninety-nine people responded, about 4% of The School Mediator's subscribers. Respondents represent a fairly wide geographic range: they live in 25 different US states and 8 countries.* About 4/5 of respondents are based in the US, and 29% percent of the total live and work in Massachusetts, where School Mediation Associates is based.… read this issue >>

The relationship between mediation and restorative practices is surprisingly nuanced. To understand it, you must appreciate the distinction between resolving conflict (mediation's strength) and repairing harm (the focus of many restorative practices). And it's complicated by the fact that even practitioners disagree on how to define restorative practices.… read this issue >>