Resolving school Resolving school conflicts through conflicts through Peer Peer Mediation Mediation in Swedenin Sweden

JurLic. Linda MarklundJurLic. Linda Marklund

Medling i skolanProjekt i

Norrbottens län

The UN convention for the rights of The UN convention for the rights of childrenchildren

The School lawThe School law

School circularsSchool circulars

Medling i skolanProjekt i Norrbottens

län LegalityLegality

In the Nordic countries RJ and In the Nordic countries RJ and mediation are heavily influenced by mediation are heavily influenced by Nils Christies article from the 1970 Nils Christies article from the 1970 ““Conflict as property”. Conflict as property”.

Since then five principles has evolved, Since then five principles has evolved, they are that mediation should be they are that mediation should be facilitative, peaceably, freely,facilitative, peaceably, freely, confidently and restoratively. confidently and restoratively.

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The Five Nordic The Five Nordic PPinciplesinciples

1.1. Freely – all participants are there freely and Freely – all participants are there freely and should participate and interact with each other in should participate and interact with each other in a free manor all through the mediation. The core a free manor all through the mediation. The core principle!principle!

2.2. Peaceably – all use of force, threat and other Peaceably – all use of force, threat and other means of wrongdoings are amiss. Mediation a means of wrongdoings are amiss. Mediation a Peace movement on a grass root level. The Peace movement on a grass root level. The intention with the mediation is to transform the intention with the mediation is to transform the conflict before it escalate further.conflict before it escalate further.

3.3. Confidently – Before, during and after a Confidently – Before, during and after a mediation confidentiality rules. Nothing said in mediation confidentiality rules. Nothing said in the mediation should bee used against a part the mediation should bee used against a part outside the mediation. The confidentiality is also outside the mediation. The confidentiality is also a mean for creating an open, trustworthy and a mean for creating an open, trustworthy and honest environment as possible.honest environment as possible.

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The Five Nordic The Five Nordic PPinciplesinciples

4.4. Facilitative – In harmony with Nils Christies Facilitative – In harmony with Nils Christies thinking the mediator should be a layman , a thinking the mediator should be a layman , a peer to the parties not a professional. The peer to the parties not a professional. The mediators roll is to be a facilitator. The mediators roll is to be a facilitator. The mediator should not offer solutions, evaluate mediator should not offer solutions, evaluate or give judgements over or for the parties. or give judgements over or for the parties. The mediator should be neutral and The mediator should be neutral and unbiased, lead the process – not the result.unbiased, lead the process – not the result.

5.5. Restoratively - Through the transformative Restoratively - Through the transformative aspect of the mediation it works restoratively. aspect of the mediation it works restoratively. The mediation should be focused at the The mediation should be focused at the relation between the parties not the issue. relation between the parties not the issue.

Medling i skolanProjekt i Norrbottens

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Peer Mediation i Peer Mediation i SwedenSweden

Financiers Financiers County administrative board in County administrative board in

NorrbottenNorrbotten County health board in the NorrbottenCounty health board in the Norrbotten Municipality union of NorrbottenMunicipality union of Norrbotten Luleå Technical UniversityLuleå Technical University The 14 Municipalities of Northern The 14 Municipalities of Northern

SwedenSweden

Medling i skolanProjekt i Norrbottens

län

Purpose of the Purpose of the projectproject

Its a project that aims to transform the working Its a project that aims to transform the working environment for everyone in the schools – for the environment for everyone in the schools – for the better.better.

Prevent and preclude bullyingPrevent and preclude bullyingBeing a fast and cost efficient conflict management Being a fast and cost efficient conflict management

program. Cost efficient not only in the money sense, program. Cost efficient not only in the money sense, but in feelings and needs as well.but in feelings and needs as well.

To teach students and everyone else what feelings are To teach students and everyone else what feelings are and how they could be handled.and how they could be handled.

To teach the students how to solve conflicts To teach the students how to solve conflicts themselves without having to resort to violence. themselves without having to resort to violence.

How to distinguish between a person and his/her How to distinguish between a person and his/her actions.actions.

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Encourage young people to take charge of their Encourage young people to take charge of their own conflicts and not letting the grownups in own conflicts and not letting the grownups in the school become conflict thieves. the school become conflict thieves.

Help students and educators see conflict in a Help students and educators see conflict in a new and more positive way.new and more positive way.

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län

Through our work Through our work we:we:

Teach students, educators and others the skills to Teach students, educators and others the skills to resolve conflict peacefully.resolve conflict peacefully.

Educates the community in a new way to look, Educates the community in a new way to look, handle and resolve conflicts.handle and resolve conflicts.

ProvideProvide students, educators and others with the students, educators and others with the knowledge, experience and the materials knowledge, experience and the materials necessary to integrate a new way of conflict necessary to integrate a new way of conflict resolution into their professional practices, their resolution into their professional practices, their curricula, and their personal lives.curricula, and their personal lives.

Medling i skolanProjekt i Norrbottens

län

Through our work Through our work we:we:

TrainingTraining

Whole school Whole school ½-2 days½-2 days

Mediator coordinators Mediator coordinators 3*2 days3*2 days

All studentsAll students 1 day1 day

Peer Mediators Peer Mediators 15 h15 h

Peer mediator meetingsPeer mediator meetings 1/two weeks 1/two weeks

Net work conference Net work conference 2/year2/year

Principals, school leaders/politicians for the Principals, school leaders/politicians for the municipalities municipalities 2-4 times a year2-4 times a year

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Conclusions good and Conclusions good and badbad

Peer mediators have gotten better self esteem and Peer mediators have gotten better self esteem and has evolved a greater respect towards other has evolved a greater respect towards other individualsindividuals

Parents have been sceptical since problem solving Parents have been sceptical since problem solving traditional lies with the grownups.traditional lies with the grownups.

Difficulties getting teachers to let go of the conflicts.Difficulties getting teachers to let go of the conflicts. The school organisation from 310 to 179The school organisation from 310 to 179 Number of conflicts has been constant but the types Number of conflicts has been constant but the types

of conflicts has changedof conflicts has changed Precluded bullyingPrecluded bullying Cooperation with the victim offender mediation Cooperation with the victim offender mediation

servicesservices More time for the school personnel to do other than More time for the school personnel to do other than

resolve/handle conflictsresolve/handle conflicts

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Contact Contact informationinformation

Linda MarklundLinda Marklund

TelephoneTelephone mobil:+46(0)70 2565414 mobil:+46(0)70 2565414

work: +46(0)920 4916 17work: +46(0)920 4916 17

Linda.marklund at ltu.seLinda.marklund at ltu.se

Medling i skolanProjekt i Norrbottens

län

A Touch of SwedenA Touch of SwedenLagomLagom – Not too much and not too little. – Not too much and not too little.

Yes, you know the idea, but you don't have one little word for it.Yes, you know the idea, but you don't have one little word for it.Swedish weapon industrySwedish weapon industry – Bofors sell weapons to any country as – Bofors sell weapons to any country as

long as they promise not to use them.long as they promise not to use them.OmbudsmanOmbudsman – A man or a woman appointed by the government to – A man or a woman appointed by the government to

protect the people against the government.protect the people against the government.KlämdagKlämdag – An excuse not to work. It means if one or two days are – An excuse not to work. It means if one or two days are

squeezed in between holidays, they are klämdagar, squeeze-days, squeezed in between holidays, they are klämdagar, squeeze-days, and why should we work on those days when we don't work on the and why should we work on those days when we don't work on the holidays surrounding them.holidays surrounding them.

KaskKask – 50 %coffee and 50 %vodka. Coffeebreak and party at the – 50 %coffee and 50 %vodka. Coffeebreak and party at the same timesame time

AllemansrättAllemansrätt – The "all mans right" Gives everyone in Sweden – The "all mans right" Gives everyone in Sweden freedom to walk around on everyone's properties. As long as you freedom to walk around on everyone's properties. As long as you don't walk into a "Militärt skyddsområde" which means Military don't walk into a "Militärt skyddsområde" which means Military Protected Area of course.Protected Area of course.

IndustrisemesterIndustrisemester – July is not a good choice if you want to visit – July is not a good choice if you want to visit Sweden in business. Sweden is closed for vacation. But come back Sweden in business. Sweden is closed for vacation. But come back in August and we'll help you again.in August and we'll help you again.

RadhusRadhus – A Swedish semidetached house is as near as lagom you can – A Swedish semidetached house is as near as lagom you can come in real estate in Sweden.come in real estate in Sweden.

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