Mediators are also entrusted with insuring the participants are respectful of one another and evening the playing field when one participant has less power or information than the other. In conflict resolution education, the skills used in mediation are learned experientially and applied to different situations. Students learn that the process can be as important as the result. Compare for yourself the difference in your reaction to being told by your spouse that you are moving to having a discussion in which you both agree moving is best. Compare also your comfort level if you and your spouse disagree, but both feel certain through your arsenal of problem solving skills you will ultimately reach agreement.
Students also learn by observing adults' behavior.
Yet, many school administrators react to parents' concerns by ignoring them or informing parents that their only option is legal recourse. In fact, mediation is currently being conducted between parents and schools very successfully, primarily in special education matters. With conflict a familiar part of the human experience, schools are consciously or unconsciously teaching methods of conflict resolution. The only question is what method is being taught. Simply punishing students for conflict neglects the responsibility to educate and passes the problem to society in general.