Mediation in Finnish Schools: From Conflicts to Restoration

Wychowanie w Rodzinie, 2022

The aim of this study is to identify and analyse the positives of peer mediation in addressing school bullying, and to highlight its strengths within the spectrum of prevention and intervention methods within this issue. Methods. Using the method of critical analysis, we processed scientifi c outputs (studies, monographs), and existing research fi ndings with the intention to compare the so far identifi ed and described aspects of peer mediation, and to put them in context of the needs and possibilities of the school environment in solving the problem of bullying. The text has the character of a review study. Results. The analysis showed that peer mediation has great potential in the prevention and intervention of bullying in the school environment: in a narrower sense, it can be benefi cial in strengthening the resilience and defence of potential victims, as well as the empathy and compassion of potential aggressors; in a broader sense, it can be useful in shaping a healthy and friendly classroom and school climate. Conclusion. One of the relevant tasks of the school is to create a supportive environment for the development of the child's personality and appropriate working conditions for all

2019

Educational professionals and policy-makers need to update their strategies to address and prevent school violence. Mediation has proved to be a useful tool for peace-building in different countries by developing individuals, their relationships, and the school climate. However, little research has assessed mediation practices. This study aims to evaluate mediation through the perceptions of secondary school students in Spain in order to highlight strengths and weaknesses of school mediation programs. It specifically aims to learn from the assessment by those who attended mediation and to detect whether there exist any significant differences regarding gender and school year. To do this, we conducted a survey study, and data from 1,198 students were collected by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. A descriptive-inferential study shows the high level of agreement between the students, who rate mediation positively, in particular, those who have used mediation for conflict resolution. R...

Journal of Education Culture and Society

Aim. Peer mediation is a tool for the prevention of socio-pathological phenomena occurring in the school environment, is an opportunity to resolve conflicts through reconciliation. The paper focuses on the perception of the importance of peer mediation and on the presentation of the results of a questionnaire survey, the aim of which was to determine the respondents’ preferences after completion of the project process. Methods. The aim of the questionnaire survey was to determine how pupils and students perceive peer mediation. The survey sample consisted of selected pupils from 6 primary schools aged 10 to 15 years and students from 6 secondary schools aged 15 to 18 years. The questionnaire was completed at the beginning (year 2020 - N = 189, including 90 primary school pupils) and end of the project implementation (year 2021 - N = 124, including 56 primary school pupils). Results. The responses in the entry and exit questionnaires, the respondents declared after participating in t...

Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Educational Sciences (ICES 2018), 2019

Almost every child has bullying treats to other whether consciously or unconsciously. He adopted through intercourse or imitating from people close to him. Similarly seen in teenagers in high school age, such as discriminatory attitudes and cannot accept the advantages of others. This study describes how conflict resolution action research provides students with skills in managing conflict. This study applies some learning methods that stimulate students to react to conflicts conditioned by the teacher and giving a solution and commitment at the end. They have self-assessment and sociometrist questions to calculate their psychological tendency to be principled, reactive, or permissive to the conflict. This research is applied to 10th graders in Civic Education for one semester (6 months). The results showed that there was a behavioral change that showed a high sense of social responsibility among students and eliminated bullying behavior. If the implementation of this model is applied continuously, it can improve students' behavior even more. The author is a teacher of Civic Education and Sociology in high school who develops conflict resolution models.

Mediation is a conflict resolution process run by a specialist third party who called mediator. Mediation process focuses on conflict resolution. Conflict in school setting is a major problem for educators and administrators and it is prevalent and common all over the world. It may induce act of violence. There is a strong tendency to use an accusive and defensive language among people. People are not naturally use these unbeseeming communication patterns but learn it from her/his environment. That’s why it’s so important to upskill the children to have inclusive, reconciliatory and empathetic attitude. In this study mediation, mediation process and peer mediation will be discussed.

Socialization - A Multidimensional Perspective, 2018

Bullying is a very common, complex and important public health problem among school students. Dovigo describes the school as a place where the conflict can emerge among relational dynamics and involve students, teachers and families. Through the description of an Italian pilot project "Mediamente Bullo," this chapter examines two tools for preventing bullying: empathy, the ability to share and understand emotional states of others, and mediation, useful to cope interpersonal conflicts. Using the mediation tool, students can learn that many forms of conflicts, including violence, can be solved by identifying the causes, discussing them and practicing nonviolent methods and behaviors. This process helps students to become more aware of positive aspects during the conflict and the power that they have in making important and positive choices. In addition, using the empathy tool, they can better understand the experience of social exclusion. In fact, several studies show that children with higher levels of empathy show less aggressive and more prosocial behaviors and they are more able to regulate their emotions. The goal of this chapter is to provide a contribution about integrated application of two important tools, mediation and empathy, in bullying among school-aged youth for future directions and intervention efforts.

Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment, 2021

This research study examines issues related to the prevention of social maladjustment of students from risk groups through the use of school mediation. The relevance of the stated research topic is due to the significant scale of the spread of juvenile delinquency in modern Ukrainian society and the growing popularity of school mediation to resolve and prevent emerging social problems at the school stage. This research study aims to identify and state the main aspects in the impact of the practice of school mediation on the factors that are fundamental in the social adaptation of students from the risk group in the modern realities of Ukrainian society. The leading approach in this scientific research is a combination of analytical and logical methods of researching the issues presented as the main ones in this work. The main results of this research study were: identifying the degree of the positive impact of mediation practice at school on the students' consciousness in the context of the need for their subsequent social adaptation and stating the fact that this practice is promising in the future to resolve issues of social fitness specifically for students from risk groups in modern social conditions. The applied value of this research work is identifying the prospects for further research of a complex of factors affecting the social situation in Ukraine in the context of the subsequent spread in a society of groups that pose a social danger, and the possibilities of school mediation as a means of preventing the development of such a phenomenon already in the early stages. Subsequent scientific research on the role of school mediation in the context of preventing the development of juvenile delinquency and assessing its effectiveness in preventing the social spread of students at risk will help supplement the existing information picture of research in this area and will become the starting point for an objective analysis of the need to use school mediation as means of preventing the spread of juvenile delinquency in Ukraine.

Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 2016

The concept of mediation is a process that is frequently used in the labour field and is underdeveloped in a field such as education. Mediation as a strategy to resolve conflict in an amicable way has gained support in various other fields but seems not to be seen as a mainstream solution to resolving conflict in education. This article reports on a qualitative study whose aim was to explore how the South African school principals deal with religious interest conflicts in their schools. The study employed narrative interviews as a means of data collection. Stories of twelve school principals pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Pretoria, all of whom had been in education for at least fifteen years at the time of the study, were collected, transcribed, analyzed and interpreted. The study revealed that none of the principals in the study saw mediation as a conducive strategy for conflict resolution, instead; they resisted and ignored the new religion policy. We therefore suggest that for effective implementation of new policies, certain strategies must be popularised within schools. We further recommend possible application of the concept of mediation as a leadership strategy in dealing with conflict in schools.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2014

Conflict between students is a common problem in the schools. If they are not supervised and controlled in a practical way, it can prevent school from reaching its goals and objectives and will have negative impact on school climate. One of the approaches for reducing conflict between individuals or groups at home or in the school or work place is mediation. Teaching students conflict management and resolution skills may provide them with necessary tools to solve their own conflict in a productive and practical way. This kind of training can also improve students` self-esteem , self-confidence, and communication skills.Main thrust of this paper is on the exploration of the history of mediation and explain essential elements of adult and peer mediation programs. Then it follows by discussion about advantages, limitations and techniques adopted for its management and redressal

The Palgrave International Handbook of School Discipline, Surveillance, and Social Control, 2018