A Summary of the Dilemma: Angel, one of very few "out" gay students at his high school, has applied to be a mediator. The team of veteran peer mediators who interviewed Angel gave him a poor score. The coordinator, who knows Angel well and feels he would make an excellent addition to the mediation team, is concerned that unacknowledged homophobia prevented the mediators from considering Angel.… read this issue >>

I sometimes arrive at a school to conduct a peer mediation training and find that the coordinator has assembled a homogenous group of trainees: most of the students are high achieving, relatively well- adjusted, and represent the majority racial/ethnic group in the school. Many are even part of the same clique of friends. … read this issue >>

I recently received this email from a peer mediation coordinator: We have some very talented student mediators who recently got into trouble at school. Although the violation was not hurtful toward others, it was a blatant violation of our code of conduct. We believe that the students need to be removed from the team because they can no longer be considered positive role models. However, our population is smaller than most public schools and the pool of mediator candidates is significantly less. Does anyone see a way where these students can maintain their Peer Mediator status without sending the wrong message to other students? Thank you very much!… read this issue >>

Your peer mediators are trained and ready to go. Your outreach campaign is in full swing. At last, the assistant principal responds by referring students in conflict to the peer mediation program. Now what? Time for intake interviews.… read this issue >>

How do you convince a reluctant student to try mediation? There is no easy formula; instead, as discussed last month, first you must develop a strong rapport with students. Only then do skillful coordinators educate about/advocate for mediation in response to each student's unique concerns.… read this issue >>

Have you ever observed mediators say something counterproductive, something that makes it more difficult for parties to resolve their conflict? Perhaps they ask an unhelpful question, or restate something in an inflammatory way, or inadvertently give their opinion. Sometimes, however, the problem is not what the mediators have said. It is that they have said anything at all.… read this issue >>

During a peer mediation training at East Boston High School last week, a number of students bristled at our standard recommendation that mediators create and enforce ground rules. Lest you assume we have a book full of rules, you should know that we suggest that mediators ask parties to agree to follow only two rules as a requirement to participate in the process: no putdowns and no physical violence. (Many peer mediation models have more ground rules.)… read this issue >>

One of the major differences in peer mediation models is whether they employ "private sessions." This month I thought I would explain School Mediation Associates' approach to this issue, and a bit of related history. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, private sessions refer to the separate meetings that mediators can hold with parties. Each party is called in individually to speak with the mediators while other parties wait their turn in an anteroom.… read this issue >>

Much of mediation's power stems from this fact: Mediators make parties feel like we understand what they are going through. Think about it: By the time people sit down with mediators, they are typically "full" of strong and often difficult feelings. They are hurt, furious, jealous, humiliated, hopeless, afraid. One of the most important messages a mediator gives to parties, therefore, is simply: I feel for you.… read this issue >>