The Cool School Peer Mediation Programme

coolschools_logo_rgb_v

Cool Schools is a whole-school proactive programme that teaches essential life skills for peaceful conflict resolution. Theskills taught in this programme empower individuals to build positive, caring relationships with others especially in times of conflicts.

 

The Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme aims to:

 

  • Raise awareness of how one’s self and others act in conflict situations.
  • Teach life long conflict management skills so that individuals feel empowered to make positive choices towards peaceful conflict resolution.
  • Develop leadership in giving service to others and promoting respect for differences and diversity.
  • Empower individuals to believe they can make a positive difference in their homes, schools, communities and beyond.

 

Cool Schools and the New Zealand Curriculum

The Cool Schools programme is aligned to the New Zealand curriculum. It provides a vast array of opportunities to help young people develop the values, competencies, knowledge and skills needed to address conflict in their everyday lives. This programme provides particularly effective learning to help develop the key competencies of ‘Managing Self and relationships with Others.’ Te learning objectives can be easily incorporated into our health education programme.

Cool Schools also supports schools to fulfil the right of every child an education that respects, protects and fulfils human rights.

 

Cool Schools Learning Areas

  • Defining conflict
  • Responses to conflict
  • Te role of the mediator
  • The mediation process
  • Problem solving and creating agreements that work
  • Active listening
  • Identifying and expressing feelings
  • Using ‘I’ statements
  • Effective questioning
  • Handling difficult situations

 

Positive Outcomes

  • Skills provided for constructive relationship building for pupils, teachers and parents.
  • Helps schools create a safe physical and emotional school environment.
  • Students develop an appreciation of conflict as something that can be handled positively and learnt from.
  • Students in the programme enjoy increased self-esteem as a result of their role as peer mediators.
  • When pupils settle their conflicts through peer mediation they are much happier and more productive in class.
  • Teachers have less conflict to deal with and more time for quality teaching.
Changes are even seen in the home. Children who have learnt mediation skills at school will be able to solve conflicts with brothers and sisters much more peacefully and constructively