Issues Affecting Young People

The analyzations of four areas: conflict, conflict resolution in schools, peer mediation and peer mediation programs in schools. Conflict is normally looked as a negative and avoidable topic. Is it possible to look at conflict from a rather different approach? How does the school district view conflict resolution in our schools? Is it possible to teach students to resolve conflicts effectively? What is the purpose of peer mediation and is it effective? What is the goal of peer mediation programs? These concerns and thought provoking questions would be answered as we proceed forward with the issues that affect young people in the school system and abroad.

Conflict could determine whether we maintain a healthy psychological development or not. Conflict has the potential to further develop our character, allow us to solve problems positively, provide change and growth. Many people are afraid of change, but as we allow change to occur, we are allowing ourselves to grow in the process. Students must understand the responses to conflict and in addition learn the conflict strategies that produce positive outcomes for schools to see constructive conflicts. Bullying and harassment happens too often in our schools. Studies define bullying as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may include teasing, social exclusion, threat, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, sexual or racial harassment, public humiliation, or destruction of property. Harassment is any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, us of data or computer software, written, verbal or physical conduct targeting a student or school employee. By December 2008, the Jeffrey Johnson stand up for all student act (2008), require all school districts to adopt a policy on bullying and harassment.

Schools need to be safe learning environments for our children. A researcher stated that understanding the dynamics of conflict and using negotiation skills to manage conflicts between peers provide the foundation of conflict resolution education. Conflict is a natural experience in life and as we empower students by providing them, the skills needed to resolve conflict is important. It is critical for administrators, teachers, and parents not to look at conflict in a negative way. Schools could be safe havens for learning as the conflict resolution program is implemented and enforced.

A study show that conflict should not be avoided or suppressed in pupils learning processes, peer mediation strategies are used to resolve conflict by viewing conflict as unavoidable and even positive. Peer mediation has many benefits for the school environment as a whole. Studies showed that peers with mediation skills were able to interact peacefully with their peers, and role models to guide, promote, and reinforce social interactions with students in difficult circumstances. These trained students are third parties to mediate conflicts among peers, solve interpersonal problems, practice responsibility and acquire more self-control.

The goal of peer mediation programs is to create a win-win quest for everyone and to deal with similar problems in the future. This program must highlight the dynamics of conflict, instruct the importance of communication skills, and use appropriate strategies in a conflict for a peaceful resolution, even taught at the elementary school level. There is much more aggression at the elementary school level, studies reveal. These skills could be applied to real life situations as well. It is a good thing to have a program that everyone comes out ahead, peer mediation provide this type of setting for our young people.

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