School Mediation Programmes and Incidents of In-School Violence and Bullying

Konstantinos Karakiozis,Evangelos C Papakitsos

doi:10.53935/2641-533x.v1i2.79

Abstract

School mediation (or peer mediation) is an effective practice for dealing with cases of in-school violence and bullying. According to the results of this retrospective research, conducted in High-Schools of the Municipality of Fyli (Athens metropolitan area, Greece), school mediation programmes contribute to: activating students wishing to help their classmates, taking responsibility and developing social/communication skills of the students involved. At the same time, it is important to point out the substantial gender differentiation in attitudes both towards incidents of in-school violence and bullying, but also to school mediation programmes. Finally, the positive response of students, who participate voluntarily beyond ordinary school hours in these programmes, is a demand for a school that responds to students’ needs.

Highlights

Conflicts between students are an everyday activity in schools and exist in every educational system (Galanaki, 2010; Panousis, 2011; Rigby, 2008)
In order to deal with these incidents, schools implement a series of programmes or actions (Farrington & Ttofi, 2009; Karakiozis, Papapanousi, Mavrakis, & Papakitsos, 2015b; Olweus, 1997; Olweus., 2005; Rigby, 2008; Rigby., 2012) including school mediation
Research Purpose and Questions The purpose of this research is to investigate the attitudes of students of the High-Schools in the Municipality of Fyli (Athens metropolitan area, Greece), who participate in a school mediation programme against incidents of in- school violence and bullying, with the ultimate goal of critically evaluating these programs

Summary

Introduction

Conflicts between students are an everyday activity in schools and exist in every educational system (Galanaki, 2010; Panousis, 2011; Rigby, 2008). School mediation is defined as a “peaceful resolution of a conflict in school life, between two or more disagreeing students with the help of a third and neutral student - the mediator - through a structured process with clear boundaries, active participation and direct contact between the parties, and with the purpose of a constructive resolution of the dispute” (Artinopoulou, 2010)

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion