In August of 2009 Mediation Services of Maui premiered a new video supporting peer mediation program development. In “Don’t Give In to the Drama,” Maui High School students provide a step-by-step demonstration of mediation with peers. Encouraging commentary is provided by two young narrators explaining key aspects of the process. The video was written and directed by Kim Compoc, Mediation Services of Maui’s youth director, and produced at Maui High. The video is reality based, both in its attention to Hawaii culture and in using situations that the students came up with through brainstorming about their own experiences and observations. It has been posted to YouTube (broken into 4 parts) and will be distributed via DVD to high schools in Maui.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

As part of the National Writing Project, a group of Marsh Junior High eighth-grade peer mediators from Chico, California embarked on a journey of exploration and discovery to find their voices and become agents of change. Here’s a video documenting some of what went on.

This short video, from the Looseleaf Report video podcast found on Aftered.tv, illustrates some of the challenges related to keeping qualified teachers.

The non-profit JAMS Foundation has provided a $300,000 grant that is funding a two-year initiative that enables Conflict Resolution Education for student teachers and in-service teachers to expand in four major U.S. cities. To operate the initiative, the JAMS Foundation is collaborating with three organizations: Temple University’s Conflict Resolution Education in Teacher Education (CRETE) program, nonprofit Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR) and nonprofit Creative Response to Conflict (CRC). This video provides a look at some of the work being done.

This video from Edutopia.org shows several RCCP activities, including one that helps young people explore put-ups and put-downs in an engaging way. – Holding a red paper heart inscribed with the words “I am important,” teacher Sarah Button is telling a story to her class of engrossed fifth graders. Each time she comes to a part of the story in which the protagonist, Maria, is on the receiving end of a deflating put-down (“Get up, lazyhead,” “You gonna wear those old rags to school?” “What’s up with that rat’s nest on your head?”), Button tears away a part of the heart. Finally, just a small piece remains. A lesson plan for this activity is available here.

Video from Edutopia featuring O’Farrell Middle School. At this school in San Diego, California, school leaders place equal emphasis on the social, intellectual, psychological, and physical needs of their students.