Wrap-Up Discussion for Unit on Negotiation, Mediation, & Arbitration

After participating in the following list of role-plays and activities, lead the class in this wrap-up discussion. This will give a good sense of closure to these concepts.

A. Make certain these activities have been followed prior to having this class discussion
* K-W-L Model discussion about Negotiation, Mediation, and Arbitration
* Negotiation, Mediation, & Arbitration Vocabulary discussion for “A Negotiation between Stan & Susan"
* Negotiation role-play: A Negotiation between Stan and Susan
* Mediation Vocabulary discussion for "Peer Mediation Role-Play between Marvin and Dan"
* Peer Mediation Role-Play between Marvin & Dan
* Role-Play Simulation: A Peer Mediation session between Stan and Susan
* Create a Peer Mediation Role-Play using 1 of these 11 Ideas
* Peer Mediation Role-Play: If You’re My Friend, Just Let It Be
* Bloom's Taxonomy Discussion Questions for If You’re My Friend, Just Let It Be

B. Wrap-Up Discussion

1. Teacher Says or Asks: Who remembers what is the meaning of Arbitration?

Students Respond: Arbitration is when a pair of people or groups goes to someone, usually an adult, to help them solve their problems. This person will work to settle the dispute and will act as a judge. An arbitrator could be a teacher, principal, parent, judge, etc.

2. Note to Teacher: Display Negotiation, Mediation, and Arbitration Poster

3. Teacher Says or Asks: Let’s look at this poster again. Who would like to volunteer to read the words on the poster?

Students Respond: (Choose an eager volunteer.)

Words on poster:
Are You In A Conflict?
First, try to Negotiate on your own.
Next, get someone to help Mediate.
Finally, get an adult to Arbitrate.

4. Teacher Says or Asks: Think back to the Negotiation role-play we did between Stan and Susan. Let’s say they tried Negotiating with each other; however, they were not successful solving their conflict on their own. What could they try next?

Students Respond: They could go through Peer Mediation.

5. Teacher Says or Asks: Okay. Let’s say that Stan and Susan tried Peer Mediation; however, they still didn’t solve the problem between them? What could they try next?

Students Respond: They could either try Arbitration or simply ignore each other from now on.

6. Teacher Says or Asks: If they did try Arbitration, who would be the best Arbitrator for Stan and Susan?

Students Respond: Possible answers:
* Teacher
* Guidance Counselor
* Assistant Principal
* Principal

7. Teacher Says or Asks: How successful do you believe an Arbitrator would be in their case?

Students Respond: (Accept Reasonable Answers.)

8. Teacher Says or Asks: Now let’s discuss the Peer Mediation role-play we did about Dan and Marvin. First, who recalls what nickname Marvin was going to go by from now on?

Students Respond: Stuart or Stu

9. Teacher Says or Asks: Let’s say that Dan refused to cooperate. Instead, he fully intended to continue calling Marvin gay and other similar words to that. What would be Marvin’s next step he could try?

Students Respond: Arbitration

10. Teacher Says or Asks: In case you are not aware of this, being called gay or homosexual, lesbian, or any words that means one of those two things is considered to be a form of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is against the rules of our school. What are some other things considered to be sexual harassment?

Students Respond:
a. Touching another person in their private places
b. Touching your private parts in front of others
c. Unwanted touching
d. Sexual advances
e. Sexual comments
f. Threats against others if person doesn’t comply
g. Gestures of a sexual nature
h. Written notes of a sexual nature
i. Push a girl into a boy’s bathroom or push a boy into a girl’s bathroom
j. Molestation
k. Rape
l. Commenting on the six of another person’s genitals or breast area
m. Spread false rumors that someone is engaged in sexual activities
n. Rubbing against someone in a suggestive manner
o. Exposing yourself to others

11. Teacher Says or Asks: What are some consequences for sexual harassment?

Note to Teacher: Look up your school policies on sexual harassment and read this to the class.

Here is the school consequence for sexual harassment at a school where I used to teach:

Students Respond: Anderson County Code of Student Conduct (1999-2000) Include such consequences ranging from “verbal reprimand, special assignment, restriction of activities, counseling, parent contact, withdrawal of privileges, issuance of demerits which might effect citizenship or deportment grades, detention, in-school suspension, corporal punishment, out-of-school suspension, disciplinary hearing, Learn Center Program referral, expulsion, and possible law enforcement involvement.”

For Teacher’s Information:
Code of Student Conduct, 1999-2000, Appendix VIII
Sexual Harassment of Students, Anderson County School Board Policy

“Sexual harassment activity toward any student by an employee or another student will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment is defined as conduct, advances, gestures or words of a sexual nature which:

1. Unreasonably interferes with the student’s work or educational opportunities; or
2. Creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive learning environment; or
3. Implies that submission to such conduct is made an explicit or implied term of receiving grades or credit; or
4. Implies that submission to or rejection of such conduct will be used as a basis for determining the student’s grades and/or participating in a student activity.

Victims of sexual harassment shall report these conditions to the appropriate school official. Confidentiality will be maintained and no reprisals or retaliation will occur as a result of good faith reporting of sexual harassment.

In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment, all of the circumstances, including the nature of the conduct and the context in which the alleged conduct occurred, will be investigated. The Director of Schools shall be responsible for investigating all complaints of sexual harassment. If satisfactory resolution of the complaint is not reached, the student may appeal the matter to the Board of Education.

II. Immoral, Disreputable, or Disruptive Conduct …

B. Sexual Harassment, Racial Slurs (Verbal, Written, or Physical Actions or Gestures) – No student will commit any acts that injures, degrades, or disgraces other. This includes verbal abuse, sexual abuse (e.g., unwanted touching, sexual advances/comments, etc.) and/or threats against others. These offenses are in violation of federal laws – Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972.”

12. Teacher Says or Asks: What are the situations when one should not even bother to try either Negotiation or Peer Mediation, but instead go straight to Arbitration? Let’s make a list on the board.

Students Respond:
a. When students are physically fighting.
b. When students have weapons.
c. Drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes at school
d. When a student hits you. Instead of hitting back, tell a teacher.
e. When the personal safety of you or another is at risk (real or perceived)
f. Threats of violence like “I’ll beat you up after school if … .”
g. Sexual Harassment
h. Exploitiveness or Blackmail
i. If you know a friend is being abused at home
j. Hear someone say they plan to bring a “zero tolerance” substance or item to school
k. You see any “zero tolerance” items at school
l. You hear someone say they plan to bring a weapon or a bomb to school
m. Someone is stealing at school
n. You hear someone make a threat about harming a teacher, principal, staff member, or another student
o. Vandalism
p. Someone is framing another person for possessing drugs, pills, cigarettes, alcohol, or other “zero tolerance” items at school
q. Gang activity
r. Someone is selling “zero tolerance” items at school
s. Someone has a pager or other forbidden items at school
t. Outcast situation that might turn into a violent situation