Does Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Programs Make a Difference for Elementary and Middle School Children?
Introduction
In today’s school climate, the character building and appreciation of differences among the Elementary and Middle School children became major issues. The cultural awareness, self-esteem, gender equity and respect in each other are the essential issues in understanding the different behaviors of the students in school communities. In the event that there are arguments, conflicts, bullying, etc., teachers are expected to be in the middle in school chaos and grab the opportunity to integrate the conflict resolution and character education.
Educations in conflict resolution and peer mediation are the results of the growing awareness and concern about the maltreatment of the other student to the other such as bullying inside the vicinity of the school. Those educational programs usually involved the music, role-playing, and demonstrated videos that focuses on the negative outcomes or consequences of bullying and teaches the students, as well as teachers, in handling those crucial events. Furthermore, the role of the teacher as the leader in education encouraged to speak with the students and relaying their thoughts about the no-tolerance policy for bullying they imposes inside the classroom (2003).
The teacher is expected to gain the cooperation and the trust of the disputants or the person involved in a disagreement to solve the conflict. In that time, the teacher should provide the cooling off period. Then, the teacher should reintroduce the ground rules and proper guideline on how to handle the conflict well. Through the responsive approach on the issue of honesty, responsibility, appreciation, compassion, fairness, acceptance, respect, perseverance, self-discipline, and trustworthiness, the teacher can have a better idea in dealing with conflict resolution (Drew, 2003).
The Field of Conflict Resolution Education
The education on conflict resolution teaches the meaningful way, variety of processes, practices and skills that addresses the individual, interpersonal, and institutional conflicts and therefore creates safe and welcoming communities. The conflict resolution provides basic understanding in the nature and role of conflict in the culture, most especially on how this affects the children (2004).
The Field of Peer Mediation
The focus on peer mediation programs and conflict education serves as a type of cooperative learning. Some experts argued that the peer mediation is the most effective approach because it increases the use of the integrative negotiation behaviors after the mediation training. In other studies, it is said that peer mediation may transfer the constructive conflict skills to sibling conflicts at home ( 2004). Peer mediation is a method of conflict resolution in which a third party helps the disputants to resolve the conflict through communication. This is possible in schools and students are taught to utilize the diplomacy skills in recognizing the other perspectives and at the same time respecting the differences of the opinions ( 2000).
Goals of Conflict Resolution Program and Peer Mediation
The effectiveness of the conflict resolution education can be measured in the four core goals (2004). First is to create a safe learning environment. This is possible if there is a decreased incident of violence, decreased conflict between students particularly based on the racial and ethnic differences, and decreased suspensions, absenteeism, and drop-out rates in the school and other learning environments. Second is to create a constructive learning environment. This goal reflects on the improvement of the school and/or classroom climate, increased respect and caring environment, increased approach in classroom management, reduced the time of the teachers allotted in solving the conflict, and increased the students’ discipline.
Third is to enhance student’s social and emotional development. Many research show that the improved problem-solving activities and perspective over the conflict can support this goal. In addition, the improved emotional awareness and management, reduces aggressive orientation can help achieve the constructive conflict behaviors. Fourth is to create a constructive conflict community. The success can be seen in increased parental and community involvement in school affairs, increased parental links between school and community, and decrease of the community tension and violence.
On the other hand, as an outcome of peer mediation, it can give way to increase the agreement, improved the academic achievement, improve the attitude toward conflict, increase the self-reliance in dealing with differences, and decrease the disciplinary problems or suspension of the students. There is a positive approach on the efficacy of peer mediation and conflict education, specifically in student’s conflict knowledge, social behavior, communication skills, and impacts on classroom climate. To support the issues of peer mediation’s effectiveness, evidences show that there is an improvement of behavior in class and at school in most of the elementary and middle schools (2000).
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