Resolving school conflicts through Peer Mediation in Sweden JurLic. Linda Marklund Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

The UN convention for the rights of children The UN convention for the rights of children The School law The School law School circulars School circulars Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län Legality

In the Nordic countries RJ and mediation are heavily influenced by Nils Christies article from the 1970 “Conflict as property”. Since then five principles has evolved, they are that mediation should be facilitative, peaceably, freely, confidently and restoratively. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

The Five Nordic Pinciples 1. Freely – all participants are there freely and should participate and interact with each other in a free manor all through the mediation. The core principle! 2. Peaceably – all use of force, threat and other means of wrongdoings are amiss. Mediation a Peace movement on a grass root level. The intention with the mediation is to transform the conflict before it escalate further. 3. Confidently – Before, during and after a mediation confidentiality rules. Nothing said in the mediation should bee used against a part outside the mediation. The confidentiality is also a mean for creating an open, trustworthy and honest environment as possible. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

The Five Nordic Pinciples 4. Facilitative – In harmony with Nils Christies thinking the mediator should be a layman, a peer to the parties not a professional. The mediators roll is to be a facilitator. The mediator should not offer solutions, evaluate or give judgements over or for the parties. The mediator should be neutral and unbiased, lead the process – not the result. 5. Restoratively - Through the transformative aspect of the mediation it works restoratively. The mediation should be focused at the relation between the parties not the issue. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

Peer Mediation i Sweden Financiers County administrative board in Norrbotten County administrative board in Norrbotten County health board in the Norrbotten County health board in the Norrbotten Municipality union of Norrbotten Municipality union of Norrbotten Luleå Technical University Luleå Technical University The 14 Municipalities of Northern Sweden The 14 Municipalities of Northern Sweden Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

Purpose of the project Its a project that aims to transform the working environment for everyone in the schools – for the better. Prevent and preclude bullying Being a fast and cost efficient conflict management program. Cost efficient not only in the money sense, but in feelings and needs as well. To teach students and everyone else what feelings are and how they could be handled. To teach the students how to solve conflicts themselves without having to resort to violence. How to distinguish between a person and his/her actions. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

Encourage young people to take charge of their own conflicts and not letting the grownups in the school become conflict thieves. Help students and educators see conflict in a new and more positive way. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län Through our work we:

Teach students, educators and others the skills to resolve conflict peacefully. Educates the community in a new way to look, handle and resolve conflicts. Provide students, educators and others with the knowledge, experience and the materials necessary to integrate a new way of conflict resolution into their professional practices, their curricula, and their personal lives. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län Through our work we:

Training Whole school ½-2 days Mediator coordinators 3*2 days All students1 day Peer Mediators 15 h Peer mediator meetings1/two weeks Net work conference 2/year Principals, school leaders/politicians for the municipalities 2-4 times a year Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

Conclusions good and bad Peer mediators have gotten better self esteem and has evolved a greater respect towards other individuals Peer mediators have gotten better self esteem and has evolved a greater respect towards other individuals Parents have been sceptical since problem solving traditional lies with the grownups. Parents have been sceptical since problem solving 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 179 The school organisation from 310 to 179 Number of conflicts has been constant but the types of conflicts has changed Number of conflicts has been constant but the types of conflicts has changed Precluded bullying Precluded bullying Cooperation with the victim offender mediation services Cooperation with the victim offender mediation services More time for the school personnel to do other than resolve/handle conflicts More time for the school personnel to do other than resolve/handle conflicts Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

Contact information Linda Marklund Telephone mobil:+46(0) work: +46(0) work: +46(0) Linda.marklund at ltu.se Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län

A Touch of Sweden Lagom – Not too much and not too little. Yes, you know the idea, but you don't have one little word for it. Swedish weapon industry – Bofors sell weapons to any country as long as they promise not to use them. Ombudsman – A man or a woman appointed by the government to protect the people against the government. Klämdag – An excuse not to work. It means if one or two days are squeezed in between holidays, they are klämdagar, squeeze-days, and why should we work on those days when we don't work on the holidays surrounding them. Kask – 50 %coffee and 50 %vodka. Coffeebreak and party at the same time Allemansrätt – The "all mans right" Gives everyone in Sweden freedom to walk around on everyone's properties. As long as you don't walk into a "Militärt skyddsområde" which means Military Protected Area of course. Industrisemester – July is not a good choice if you want to visit Sweden in business. Sweden is closed for vacation. But come back in August and we'll help you again. Radhus – A Swedish semidetached house is as near as lagom you can come in real estate in Sweden. Medling i skolan Projekt i Norrbottens län