How Peer Mediation Can Help Avoid Suspension

By Virginia Butler


Whether going to a public or private high school, there are often times when teenagers can not avoid a conflict. Whether the issue is between two specific students, or more than two, Peer Mediation can often help in resolving these type of conflicts. While this is the case, those involved must be willing to work together to overcome the issue while being monitored by a professional mediator.

The process is based on the concept of youth helping youth when it comes to problem solving and resolution. In doing so, the mediator provides a confidential safe location where the individuals can meet. At which time, the mediator oversees a meeting of those involved in the conflict.

Mediators providing these services are most often provided through private consulting firms. Most mediators providing these services come from a number of different backgrounds. Whether having participated in the process, or a similar one such as peer counseling which was popular in the 1990s, all are trained before going out on assignments to assist others.

While a lot of focus is on stopping gang violence and disorderly behavior in schools, there are also mediators which work with community members, employees and families. For, all of these are situations in which most likely two or more adults are going to disagree. Whether such disagreement involves family issues in the home, policies and procedures in the workplace or members of a community, there are mediators whom are trained to help resolve issues in this area.

Benefits for adults going through this process is that it creates a peaceful environment which can often assist when it comes to rebuilding a sense of communication, compromise and understanding. Whether the disagreement involves adults at home, work or school, there are trained mediators which specialize in these and other environments.

Conflicts with fellow employees is often one of the most difficult issues because it often involves the risk of being fired. In most cases, a mediator can assist employees in coming to a compromise by teaching that while one employee may see or do things one way, and others another, this does not mean either is right or wrong, just that each have a way of working which is different from one another.

When an issue effects an entire community, there are going to be several people who agree and disagree with an issue. In most cases, these issues are related to city codes and infrastructure or rules and regulations related to curfews after an emergency. While often more difficult than working with two adults or children, mediators are available to teach groups how to agree to disagree and still remain peaceful throughout the process.

In all cases, whether working with adults or children, mediation can assist in educating individuals of all ages how to use more reasonable forms of communication in order to resolve current and future conflicts. Whether a minor or major dispute, a mediator can often be the difference between going to jail, being involved in a lawsuit or having to pay court costs. For, communication, compromise and understanding are often keys in preventing and overcoming disagreements which if not resolved can often lead to arrest, lawsuits or, in the case of gangs, death.




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