SOLVING SCHOOL CONFLICTS THROUGH MEDIATION

1. SOLVING SCHOOL CONFLICTS THROUGH MEDIATION EDUCATIONAL PROJECT by TECHNICAL COLLEGE “GHEORGHE CARTIANU”PIATRA NEAMŢ Academic years: 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 Project coordinator: Principal, Prof. Mariana Paleu Trainers: Psychologist Elena Andonescu PsychologistMariana Sîrbu

2. ARGUMENT • Violence is an omnipresent phenomenon in modern society. School as an element of the social field suffers the effects of violence. • The preoccupations for a better understanding of this phenomenon and for promoting effective measures of intervention have motivated us to conduct a study on violence during the academic year 2008-2009. The results of the study revealed that violence, mostly the verbal one, is the most frequent method employed by pupils in solving conflicts among their group. • Starting from the premise that the models offered by peers have greater influence than the models of adults, we considered that, by training a group of pupils as mediators, the conflicts will be regarded and solved other than a “fight” in which there are “winners” and “losers”.

3. The purpose of the project:Raising the resolution of school conflicts through mediation.

4. Objectives • Training a group of 16 pupils into using mediation strategies in order to solve conflicts. • Increasing the level of responsibility among pupils regarding the decision making process. • Lowering the risk of violence use in the conflicts among pupils.

5. Target group • Trainers of the pupils of Technical College “Gheorghe Cartianu”Piatra Neamţ

6. Beneficiaries • Direct beneficiaries – pupils of Technical College “Gheorghe Cartianu” Piatra Neamţ • Indirect beneficiaries – the parents of the pupils of Technical College “Gheorghe Cartianu” Piatra Neamţ

7. Resources: Material • Space to deploy the activities – the Office of Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance • Classrooms • Video-projector • Flip-charts, markers, flyers Human • Pupils • Head teachers • Psychologists • Technical assistance • Project coordinator

8. Steps of the project : I. Selection of pupils participating at the training II. Training of pupils in mediation techniques. III. Promoting the mediators’ activity in school. IV.Solving school conflicts by means of mediators’ intervention. V. Evaluation.

9. Stage I: Selection of pupils participating at trainings • Evaluation of 10th graders. • Interview with head teachers. • Interview with the pupils suitable for being included in the training program. • Receiving consent from the parents of the pupils included in the training program.

10. Stage II: Theoretical and practical training of selected pupils • Presentation of theoretical notions regarding self-knowledge, communication, emotion management, conflict , and mediation. • Practical exercise of mediation and negociation techniques.

11. Stage III: Promoting the mediators’ activity in school • Promoting the mediators’ activity through informative campaigns among pupils. • Conducting demonstrative activities regarding mediation in classes.

12. Stage IV: Solving school conflicts by means of mediators’ intervention. • Actions of mediation accomplished by mediator pupils. • Meetings with the mediator pupils in order to analyze and evaluate their activity.

13. Stage V: Evaluation of the project • Analyzing the results of the project together with head teachers and parents of the pupils involved. • Analyzing the results of the project together with the pupils.

14. Expected results: • Stage I : Namingthe 16 pupils that will be included in the training program. • Stage II: Trainingthe 16 pupils in conflict mediation techniques. • Stage III: Informing a number of pupils as large as possible regarding the project. • Stage IV: Involving mediator pupils in solving school conflicts. • StageV: Receiving a positive feed-back from the beneficiaries. Raising the resolution of school conflicts through mediation.

27. Together we can succeed!