What are other preventative steps beyond peer mediation to help prevent violence among students?
Peer mediation is a good beginning, but I believe that many of our measures can prevent school violence before peer mediation is necessary. The reality of violence in and around some of our schools is a devastating and complex issue that we must approach from many angles. We must enforce consistent discipline policies, but we also need strong programs fully staffed by adults; many of our kids need school psychologists and dont have them. We also need mentoring opportunities within schools so that all of our students have strong adult role models who are present during school and after- school time. As we foster higher levels of achievement and increase the life hope and life opportunities of our students, supporting them to meet higher expectations for achievement, students will become hopeful. Students who are hopeful about their future and equipped to meet its challenges are less likely to engage in violence than those who are not. When our schools are better places for learning, inc
