Mediation Has a Role To Play With Student Bullying
Peer mediation has had great success in adressing bullying. The trend of students implementing the more frequent use of “screen time” and relating to one another by text and other manners lacking face-to-face communication, the human element slips away. Students are less aware of the repercussions of their unkind words. That’s why school districts that implement student-to-student mediation programs offer a powerful tool to place responsibility upon students for their actions, and to get face-to-face feedback on the power of their unkindness. Student mediation is an excellent process, for students directly involved in the interaction, to discuss a future-focussed plan to avoid future unkindness and bullying. Student mediation places the responsibility directly on the shoulders of those involved.
~ Eileen M. Rowley