EDUCATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MEDIATION IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND THE YOUTH

<ns3:p>Mediation is a process as a result of which conflicting parties may, with the support of a third person, independently find a resolution of the conflict that ensures a win of both parties. This method of resolving conflicts has educational potential because it encourages the development of children’s and the youth’s important and socially desirable competences and attitudes. Therefore, mediation is applied to work with young people who have violated social and legal norms both in school and out-of-school environment. Mediation is an institution supporting the application of other solutions than only punishing the offender for his/her bad behaviour, it encourages the finding of the solution that satisfies both a person harmed by such a behaviour and the offender, but it also allows the offender to assume responsibility for his/her actions and compensate for the loss. The article draws the attention to the educational values connected with the application of mediation to school conflict resolution and mediation in matters of minors which have been presented in the light of the literature on the subject. The article also presents the results of own studies that have been carried out among the students of Pedagogy in which future social rehabilitation pedagogues indicate various advantages and barriers connected with the application of mediation in education work with children and the youth.</ns3:p>