The following situation was submitted to The School Mediator last month. Some details were changed to protect the identity of the school. I am a school counselor and have coordinated a peer mediation program in my high school for four years. We have had a great run, and the administration sincerely feels that peer mediation is one of the best programs we have ever implemented.… read this issue >>

When Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold blasted their way into Columbine High School, and the national consciousness, they forced the issue of bullying onto American educators' overcrowded agenda. This is because Harris and Klebold — as well as a great many of the young men implicated in other school shootings — were the victims of school bullying.… read this issue >>

The following piece was sent to The School Mediator by an excellent peer mediation coordinator who I happen to know. He has been active in the field for close to a decade and has personally trained hundreds of students to mediate. He is currently an adjustment counselor and mediation coordinator in an urban high school in the United States. His school has large, first-generation Asian and Hispanic populations and a difficult gang problem. He has chosen to remain anonymous. These are his words: It is a frustrating reality for me that most kids we train to be mediators aren't very good at it. I am writing to clarify my feelings and hopefully to receive feedback from others wrestling with this issue. … read this issue >>

"Conflicts involving boys are one thing, but fights between girls are the most challenging." If I had a dollar for every educator who has said this to me with a knowing grin, I could buy each of you a book on the suddenly popular topic of "relational aggression."… read this issue >>

I live near ground zero in the debate over what has come to be called "gay marriage." Last week, people from across the US and representing both "sides" of this issue squared off outside the Massachusetts State House — 4 miles from where I sit. … read this issue >>

The following situation is based on one that was recently submitted to The School Mediator. Some details were changed to protect the identity of the school. Last week I was approached by our principal, Michael Weber, about a conflict that involves our girl's basketball team. He wanted to know whether we could mediate this dispute.… read this issue >>

Maria Goode, a junior, was selected by her coach to start on the girls basketball team instead of a more popular senior named Rochelle Bostwhistle. This led to ongoing and hurtful harassment of Ms. Goode, presumably carried out by her teammates as well as other students. The school administration has not been effective in stopping the harassment. The peer mediation coordinator wondered whether and how to intervene.… read this issue >>

Educators use many programs to improve school climate. As far as I can tell, these programs are branches from the same tree. They all strive to make schools: Safe, by preventing and protecting students from harm, and repairing harm when it does occur; and Caring, by encouraging adults and young people to develop positive, supportive connections with one another.… read this issue >>

Are you confused about how peer mediation and bullying prevention efforts can work together? Do you have difficulty deciding where to refer student conflicts? Do you want to help students who bully repair the harm that they cause? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you'll be interested in attending the webinar… Peer Mediation and Bullying Prevention: Untangling a Complicated Relationship… read this issue >>

Fifteen year old Alice appeared calm when she arrived for her appointment with Ms. Gilbert, the high school adjustment counselor.  But moments after she began to speak, she was reduced to tears. It turned out that a number of other girls--all former friends--were mad that Alice was talking to a particular boy named Edgar. Though the tension between the girls had been evident for more than a month, during the last week it had become almost intolerable… read this issue >>

"If all the statisticians in the world were laid head to toe, they wouldn't be able to reach a conclusion."  Anonymous It was great to receive so many responses to the "State of Peer Mediation 2011" Survey. Ninety-nine people responded, about 4% of The School Mediator's subscribers. Respondents represent a fairly wide geographic range: they live in 25 different US states and 8 countries.* About 4/5 of respondents are based in the US, and 29% percent of the total live and work in Massachusetts, where School Mediation Associates is based.… read this issue >>

Sam Diener, of the Center for Nonviolent Solutions in Worcester MA, created these insightful talking points to assist educators in speaking with students about the shooting in the Chardon, Ohio high school yesterday. Thanks to Sam for allowing me to publish them. I edited them with his permission.… read this issue >>