A survey of 210 students in grades 5-7 in six Toronto (Canada) schools found that students' willingness to serve as peer mediators declined significantly between fifth and seventh grades. There were no significant differences by gender in willingness to participate. (SV)

Discusses intervention options that help prevent violence in schools by affecting the school climate. Describes five approaches to improve the school climate: (1) parent and community involvement; (2) character education; (3) violence-prevention and conflict-resolution curricula; (4) peer mediation; and (5) bullying prevention. (CMK)

Contends that peer mediation offers a way for students to settle disagreements without violence and without involving the traditional system of school discipline. Discusses brief background about peer mediation, then presents one high school mediation program that has been implemented and evaluated. Outlines step-by-step approach to implement a…

The need for solutions to youth violence has engendered inappropriate uses of conflict-resolution and peer-mediation programs. A research review indicates that reducing aggression and violence requires schoolwide change in conflict attitudes and behavior and concurrent, intensive programs targeting specific problems of particularly aggressive…

Although traditional discipline procedures (expulsion, time-out rooms, suspensions, and scolding) teach students to depend on authority figures to resolve conflicts, the Peacemaker Program teaches children how to mediate disputes and negotiate solutions themselves. To regulate their own behavior, students must have opportunities to make decisions…

Students exposed to conflict-resolution and peer-mediation programs learn skills to communicate more effectively at school, at home, and in the community. This paper discusses student conflicts, student responses to conflict, implementing conflict resolution and peer mediation, integration of conflict resolution and peer mediation into the…

Discusses what high schools can do to improve student relationships, highlighting a St. Louis area school's efforts to develop peer-mentoring and peer-mediation programs. Offers guidelines to help other schools develop a school culture that promotes caring, teaches constructive conflict resolution, and reduces potential for violence. (MLH)

This article describes a conflict resolution and peer mediation program implemented in three middle schools. The program used a school-wide conflict resolution curriculum and enlisted a core group of trained peer mediators in each school. A resolution acceptable to disputing parties was reached more than 95 percent of the time. (Contains 11…

Lifelong learning has been linked by policymakers to economic and social wellbeing. This paper introduces the concept of training brokerage as an efficient way of meeting the needs of learners, industry and education and training providers. It presents findings from a study of the features, processes and outcomes of training brokerage arrangements…

This book presents stories from teachers nationwide who tackled specific discipline challenges. Chapter 1, "Taking the Total Quality Road" (Judi Call, Beth Ziecheck, Janice Wright, and Kenneth Rigsby), discusses the use of Total Quality Management (TQM) in developing classroom management systems, explaining how Florida elementary…

Originating in New York City schools, the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (Peaceable Schools Model) helps to transform the culture of participating schools and to make them nonviolent learning communities. The model features a K-12 curriculum focusing on key social skills, professional development for teachers, student-led mediation,…

A review of studies of conflict and conflict resolution training in schools finds evidence suggesting that untrained students often use strategies with destructive outcomes. After training, outcomes of conflict are more likely to be constructive and students are more able to resolve their own conflicts. (SLD)

Describes how a Seattle principal confronted familiar urban school challenges and brought parents, teachers, and students together to focus on children' needs. The school's strategic plan included goals for behavior improvement, a quest for equity, an emphasis on parent involvement, and an ever-evolving child-centeredness. (MLH)

Concerned with increasing numbers of student fights, a Maryland middle school initiated a peer-mediation program to help students deal effectively with conflict. Peer mediators received training emphasizing confidentiality, rephrasing, and cooperation. After one year, the number of suspensions and student arguments decreased, school climate…

Describes school peer mediation as a mode of student conflict management to be used with elementary and middle school students. The background and theoretical assumptions underlying the model are explained, benefits to students and to the school are discussed, and training of staff and student peer mediators is described. A peer mediation process…