Mediation in Schools

Abstract

Communication generates situations that end up in getting an easy outcome—mutual understanding of people involved in the act—or a rising awareness of the differences between them. Consequences vary, but sometimes they could lead to conflicts. Some settings, like schools, due to specific constraints and requirements, are prone to increase the level of frustration of people and, thus, of conflictual situations. They need to have an as-easy-as-possible way of dealing with conflict in a peaceful manner. Peer mediation, as a negotiation technique, is one of the most efficient ways of dealing with conflicts whenever these appear. It is even more important when we speak about conflicts between children. This chapter reviews some relevant issues regarding conflict and its impact on school climate and presents the idea of implementing peer mediation in a different cultural school setting as a way of improving the educational environment and results.