Verdict or Voice Worksheet Verdict or Voice?
Peace Makers Academy
Module 01: The Neutral Party
Student Name
Date of Session
01 The Petty Dispute
The Case: Sam borrowed Jamie's expensive noise-canceling headphones for a study session. While Jamie was away, Sam accidentally knocked a coffee onto them. They still work, but there's a permanent coffee stain on the white padding and they smell faintly of espresso. Jamie wants a brand new pair ($300). Sam thinks they should just pay for a cleaning kit ($20) because they still function perfectly.
Phase 1: The Judge's Bench
Act as a judge. Listen to both sides and make a final decision. Your word is law.
My Verdict (Who wins? What happens?)
My Reasoning (Why is this fair?)
Phase 2: The Mediator's Seat
Act as a mediator. Do not decide who is right. Facilitate a conversation where they find a solution.
Neutral Questions (Ask Sam/Jamie)
Potential Win-Win Ideas (Theirs)
The Mediator's Mindset
1. When you were the Judge, who had the power? When you were the Mediator, where did the power shift?
2. Why might Jamie and Sam be happier with a mediated solution than a judge's verdict?
3. Defining Neutrality
Circle the words that describe a successful peer mediator's behavior:
UNBIASED
OPINIONATED
SILENT
LISTENING
AUTHORITY
FACILITATOR
DECIDER
EMPATHETIC
The Golden Rule of Mediation
"The process belongs to the mediator; the content belongs to the disputants."
Neutral Party Slides Lesson 1: Professional Foundations
The Neutral
Third Party
Defining the role, ethics, and power dynamics of a Peer Mediator.
Verdict vs. Voice
The Judge
Holds the Power to decide the outcome.
Focuses on Right vs. Wrong and blame.
The solution is Imposed (told what to do).
The Mediator
Facilitates the Process , not the content.
Focuses on Needs & Future resolutions.
The solution is Collaborative (created by them).
The Three Pillars of Mediation
Neutrality
No taking sides. No judgment. Even if you're friends with one person, you remain a "Switzerland" in the room.
Confidentiality
What is said in the room stays in the room. It creates the "Safe Space" needed for honesty.
Voluntarism
The disputants want to be there. You cannot force a resolution on someone who doesn't want it.
The Mediator's Golden Rule
"I own the PROCESS.
They own the CONTENT."
If you start suggesting solutions, you've stopped being a mediator. You are now a manager. Focus on how they talk, not what they decide.
Mediator Ethics Teacher Guide Teacher Guide: The Neutral Party
Lesson 1: Foundations of Facilitation
Lesson Objective
Students will understand that a mediator is a process-expert, not a content-expert. They will transition from a "judgmental" mindset to a "facilitative" mindset and understand the non-negotiable ethical boundaries of the role.
Key Concepts
Neutrality vs. Bias
Self-Determination
Confidentiality Limits
Process Ownership
Pacing Guide
Hook Activity 15m
Direct Instruction 15m
Ethics Discussion 10m
Reflection 10m
01 Facilitating the Hook
Using the Verdict or Voice Worksheet , guide students through the headphones dispute.
"Many students struggle to let go of their desire to 'fix' the problem. When they act as a judge, they feel powerful. When they act as a mediator, they often feel helpless at first. Acknowledge this feeling—it's the hardest part of the job."
Questions to Probe:
"Judge, how did Jamie look at you? Like a savior? A threat?"
"Mediator, how did you handle it when they both looked at you for the answer?"
"In which role did the participants have to actually talk to each other?"
02 The Confidentiality Boundary
Students must memorize the Duty to Report . Peer mediation is confidential EXCEPT in three cases:
Self-Harm
Threats of suicide or self-injury.
Harm to Others
Plans for violence or physical fighting.
Illegal Abuse
Knowledge of abuse, neglect, or serious crimes.
Teaching Tip: Have students practice saying the "Break-Confidentiality Clause":
Exit Criteria
Students should be able to:
Explain why mediators don't suggest solutions.
Identify the "Duty to Report" triggers.
Use the word "Facilitator" correctly.
Prep for Lesson 2:
Ask students to pay attention to the "Opening Statements" of sports commentators or news anchors. How do they set the stage without taking a side?
Mediation Process Slides Lesson 2: Protocol & Flow
The Five
Stages
Building a predictable framework for resolution.
The Mediation Roadmap
1
The Intro
Setting the rules and building trust.
2
Storytelling
Hearing both sides of the conflict.
3
Identify Issues
Finding the core problems to solve.
4
Brainstorm
Generating creative solutions.
5
Agreement
Writing the final, signed contract.
Stage 1: The Opening
Why it matters:
This is where you establish authority and safety . If you stumble here, the disputants won't trust you to guide them through the emotional parts later.
The Goals:
Introduce yourself & the role.
Define Neutrality & Confidentiality.
Set the Ground Rules .
Snippet of the Script
"Welcome. My name is [Name] and I am your mediator today. I am here to help you talk through this, but I won't decide who is right or wrong. Before we start, do you agree to:
1. No interrupting?
Don't Jump to Solutions!
The biggest mistake a new mediator makes is going from Stage 2 (Story) straight to Stage 5 (Agreement) .
Story
Emotional & Unfiltered
Agreement
Final & Technical
You need the middle stages to make it stick.
Mediator Opening Script Handout Mediator Resource 02-A
Opening Statement Script
Stage 1: Introduction
1
Greeting & Purpose
"Hello, my name is __________________________. I want to thank you both for coming in today to resolve this situation. I am a trained peer mediator. My role is to help you talk to each other and listen to each other so that you can come up with your own solution. I am not a judge, and I won't decide who is right or wrong."
2
The Pillars
"I am neutral, which means I don't take sides. Also, everything we say here is confidential—it stays in this room. The only exception is if you tell me you are going to hurt yourself, hurt someone else, or that someone is hurting you. In those cases, I have a duty to report that to a counselor. Does that make sense?"
3
The Ground Rules
"For this to work, we have a few ground rules. I'll ask you to agree to them now:"
"Do you agree to no name-calling or put-downs?"
"Do you agree not to interrupt when the other person is speaking?"
"Do you agree to work honestly toward a solution?"
4
Closing the Opening
"Great. We will start by hearing each of your stories. [Person A], would you like to go first, or shall I choose?"
Eye Contact
Look at both people equally. If you only look at one, you appear biased.
The Voice
Speak calmly and slightly slower than usual. This reduces the room's energy.
Posture
Lean slightly forward. It shows you are engaged and listening actively.
Process Shuffle Activity Process Shuffle
Stage Sequencing Activity
Mission Brief
The mediation process is a carefully designed sequence. If you skip a step, the resolution might fail. Task: Cut out the 5 stage cards below and arrange them in the correct chronological order on the Roadmap.
Identifying Issues
"The mediator summarizes the rambling stories into a neutral list of bullet points: 'So, we need to talk about the budget, the schedule, and communication.'"
The Agreement
"Everyone signs a written document that details exactly what will happen next. The dispute is officially resolved."
Storytelling
"Each person shares their version of what happened without interruption. The mediator listens for facts and feelings."
Brainstorming
"The disputants generate as many ideas as possible to solve the listed problems. No idea is a 'bad' idea at this stage."
Introduction
"The mediator explains their role, defines confidentiality, and sets ground rules (no interrupting, no name-calling)."
The Final Roadmap
1
Paste Introduction here
2
Paste Stage 2 here
3
Paste Stage 3 here
4
Paste Stage 4 here
5
Paste Agreement here
Mining for Truth Slides Lesson 3: The Art of Summarization
Mining for
Truth
Cutting through the noise to find the core issues.
The Iceberg Principle
The Position (Above Water)
"I want her off the project. I won't work with her."
What they say they want. Often aggressive and final.
The Interest (Below Water)
"I'm worried about my grade and I don't feel like my work is being respected."
The reason they want it. Their underlying needs.
Mediators dig deep.
The Neutralizer
When people share their stories, they use charged language (insults, blame, exaggerations). Your job is to strip away the "heat" and keep the "meat."
Charged Story
"He's a lazy jerk who never does his part of the research and then lies to the teacher about why it's late!"
Neutral Agenda Item
"So, one issue we need to discuss is the division of work and meeting deadlines ."
Creating the Agenda
Rules for Agenda Items:
1
Must be Neutral (no blame included).
2
Must be Broad enough for many solutions.
3
Must be Agreed upon by both parties.
Agenda Builder Worksheet The Agenda Builder
Student Resource 03-B
Stage 3: Identifying Issues
Lead Mediator
Session Date
Mediator's Mission: Strip the Heat
Listen to the "Charged Stories" below. Your goal is to rewrite them into Neutral Agenda Items . Remember: No blame, no names, just the core problem that needs solving.
01
Case: The Digital Burn
Charged Story
"She's such a snake! She posted a screenshot of our private group chat on her story just to make me look stupid in front of everyone. I want her to delete it and apologize publicly or I'm blocking her forever!"
Neutral Agenda Items
02
Case: The Project Fail
Charged Story
"It's not fair! I did the entire poster while they just sat there on their phones. Now they want to get the same grade as me? No way. They should have to tell the teacher they did zero work."
Neutral Agenda Items
03
Case: The Missing Jacket
Charged Story
"He stole my vintage jacket from my locker! He says he 'borrowed' it, but then he lost it at the game. That jacket was $100 and limited edition. He's a thief and he needs to pay me back right now."
Neutral Agenda Items
The Neutrality Test
Look at your Agenda Items above. For each one, ask yourself these three questions. If you answer "No" to any, rewrite the item!
01. No Blame?
Did you remove names or judgmental adjectives (like "lazy", "stole", "lied")?
02. Future Focused?
Does it focus on solving the problem, or just rehashing the past?
03. Broad?
Is it broad enough that both people could agree to discuss it?
Chaos Story Teacher Guide Teacher Script: The Chaos Story
Lesson 3 Hook: Stage 2/3 Simulation
The Mission
Select two volunteers to play "Alex" and "Jordan." Give them their scripts 5 minutes before the lesson. They should speak with high emotion, interrupt each other slightly, and look to the student "Mediator" for support.
Teacher Objective
Demonstrate how overwhelming Stage 2 (Storytelling) can be, and why the mediator MUST use Stage 3 (Identifying Issues) to restore order.
Materials Needed
Whiteboard, Markers, Student volunteers.
Disputant A: Alex
"Look, it's simple. Jordan is just lazy. We had two weeks to finish the science slides. I did all the research on the first weekend. I texted Jordan every single day. No reply. Then, on Sunday night at 11:00 PM, Jordan sends me these blurry photos of a textbook and says 'here's my part.' It was trash! I had to stay up until 3:00 AM fixing it. I'm not putting Jordan's name on the project. Jordan doesn't deserve the 'A' I earned."
Disputant B: Jordan
"Alex is such a control freak! I have soccer practice every night and my phone was broken for three days. I TOLD Alex I would get my part done by Sunday. I did the work! It wasn't 'trash,' Alex just wants everything to look exactly one way. Alex started the project without even asking me what part I wanted to do. Now Alex is acting like some kind of martyr. I worked hard on those photos and I deserve credit for my contribution!"
Analysis The Mining Process
The "Heat" (Ignore this)
"Jordan is lazy."
"Alex is a control freak."
"The work was trash."
"Alex is a martyr."
The "Meat" (The Issues)
Communication methods & response times.
Division of labor and role assignment.
Work quality standards.
Grading/Credit for the project.
The Ideal Agenda (Whiteboard Example)
The mediator should write these three items on the board and ask: "Does this list cover everything you both want to talk about?"
Communication & Timelines
Division of Project Work
Final Grading / Credit
Handling Ramblers
If a student won't stop talking, use a physical gesture (a gentle hand up) and say: "I'm going to stop you there so I can make sure I've captured your main point correctly. Is it fair to say a core issue for you is..."
The "Magic" Question
After summarizing, always ask: "Did I miss anything important?" This gives the power back to the disputants and proves you were listening.
Ironclad Resolution Slides Lesson 4: The Final Clause
The Ironclad
Resolution
Writing agreements that actually last.
The Vague Trap
Weak Agreement
"Sam will be nicer to Jamie in the future."
What does "nicer" mean?
When does this start?
How do we prove it happened?
Vague agreements lead to re-conflict.
If an agreement is open to interpretation, it will be broken. Your job is to make it "lawyer-proof."
"If a stranger reads this agreement, would they know exactly what to do without asking any questions?"
The SMART Agreement
S
Specific
Who, what, where, and how?
M
Measurable
Can we prove it was done?
A
Achievable
Can they actually do it?
R
Relevant
Does it solve the real problem?
T
Time-Bound
What is the deadline?
The Upgrade
Before (Vague)
"Jordan will pay back the money for the broken phone."
After (Ironclad)
"Jordan will pay Jamie $20 every Friday for five weeks (totaling $100), starting this Friday, January 23rd, via cash payment at lunch."
Agreement Lab Worksheet Agreement Lab
Student Resource 04-B
Stage 5: Sustainable Solutions
Agreement Architect
Lab Date
Mission: Lawyer-Proof the Peace
Below are three "broken" agreements. They are vague, impossible, or lack a timeline. Your job is to identify the Loopholes (ways someone could "technically" follow the agreement while still causing trouble) and rewrite them using SMART criteria.
Case 01: The Social Media Ghosting
The Weak Agreement
"Casey will stop posting mean stuff about Riley on TikTok."
Where are the loopholes?
The SMART Rewrite (Ironclad)
Tip: Specify timeframes, platforms, and what happens to old posts.
Case 02: The Borrowed Hoodie
The Weak Agreement
"Devin will return the blue hoodie to Morgan soon."
Where are the loopholes?
The SMART Rewrite (Ironclad)
Tip: Define "soon" and the condition of the item.
Case 03: The Group Project
The Weak Agreement
"Taylor will do their fair share of the work for Biology."
Where are the loopholes?
The SMART Rewrite (Ironclad)
Tip: Define the specific tasks and the exact deadline.
The Sign-Off Checklist
As the mediator, you must check every agreement against these final tests:
Balanced Burden?
Is one person doing all the work, or are both contributing to the fix?
Future Proof?
Does it include a plan for what happens if the conflict starts again?
Positive Tone?
Does it focus on what will happen, rather than just what won't?
Clear Signatures?
Is there space for both parties and the mediator to sign formally?
Official Resolution Template Official Resolution Agreement
Peace Makers Academy
Form 05: Legal & Binding
Party A Name
Party B Name
Date of Mediation
Lead Mediator
I. Statement of Resolution
The parties listed above have met in good faith and agreed to resolve their dispute as follows:
II. Future Conflict Plan
If another conflict arises or this agreement is broken, the parties agree to:
Formal Authorization
Signature of Party A
Signature of Party B
Signature of Peer Mediator
"By signing this document, all parties agree to uphold the terms listed. This mediation is now closed."
Mediator Certification Rubric Certification Rubric
Peace Makers Academy Performance Assessment
Pass Score
18/24
Candidate Name
Assessor
Case # / Scenario
Criteria Mastery (4) Proficient (3) Developing (2) Stage Management
Flow and sequence of the 5 stages.
| Clearly follows all 5 stages; transitions are smooth and professional. | Follows all 5 stages but may rush or stumble through transitions. | Skips stages or goes out of order (e.g., jumps to solutions too early). |
|
Impartiality
Maintaining a neutral stance.
| Remains perfectly neutral; uses unbiased language and equal eye contact. | Mostly neutral, but may use slightly biased language once or twice. | Shows clear bias; takes sides or offers their own opinions on the solution. |
|
Issue Mining
Agenda building and neutral summaries.
| Extracts neutral, future-focused agenda items that both parties agree to. | Identifies core issues but may include some "heat" in the summary. | Fails to summarize; the agenda is biased or stays focused on the past. |
|
Communication
Enforcing ground rules.
| Firmly and politely enforces ground rules (interrupting, name-calling). | Reminds parties of rules but may allow minor interruptions. | Fails to intervene when ground rules are broken; loses control of room. |
|
Final Agreement
SMART criteria in resolution.
| Agreement is fully SMART and ironclad; includes specific names and dates. | Agreement is clear but may miss one SMART element (e.g., no deadline). | Agreement is vague or unrealistic; fails to solve the core problem. |
|
Professionalism
Body language and tone.
| Commands the room with calm, confident body language and voice. | Mostly professional but may seem nervous or overly casual. | Lacks professional presence; seems distracted or indifferent. |
Strengths observed
Areas for Growth
Final Decision
CERTIFIED
PROVISIONAL
Total Points
/ 24
Mediation Scenario Pack Certification Briefs
Peace Makers Academy
Official Assessment Scenarios
Instructions for Role-Players
Disputants: Read your background stories carefully. Do not read them aloud! During the mediation, start by being a little difficult—interrupt once or twice and use "charged" language. Reveal your "Secret Interests" only after the mediator summarizes your story correctly.
Case 01: The Varsity Cut
Difficulty: High
Blake (Captain)
"I've been on varsity for 3 years. Drew is a freshman who just made the team. Drew is talented but super cocky. During practice, Drew keeps trying to 'show me up' and ignoring my instructions. Yesterday, Drew tripped me during a drill. I think Drew did it on purpose to take my starting spot. I want Drew off the team or at least suspended for the next game."
Secret Interest: You're actually worried about being replaced because you're struggling with a minor knee injury you haven't told anyone about. You need the team to respect your leadership so you don't feel vulnerable.
Drew (Rookie)
"Blake is a total bully. Every time I make a good play, Blake rolls their eyes or tells me I 'got lucky.' I didn't trip Blake on purpose—the turf was slippery. Blake screamed at me in front of the whole team and called me a 'flash in the pan.' I'm just playing hard to prove I belong. I want Blake to apologize publicly for the yelling."
Secret Interest: You look up to Blake and actually want their advice on how to improve. You're trying too hard to impress Blake and it's coming off as arrogance. You just want to feel like part of the team.
Case 02: The Borrowed Beats
Difficulty: Medium
Skyler
"I let Quinn borrow my expensive wireless headphones for the weekend. When I got them back, the left earbud has a crack and the case is scratched. Quinn says 'they were like that,' but I know they weren't. These were a gift from my grandpa. I want Quinn to pay for a full replacement ($150)."
Secret Interest: It's not just about the money. Your grandpa passed away recently, and these were the last thing he gave you. You're terrified of losing that connection.
Quinn
"Skyler is obsessed with those headphones. I barely used them. I put them in my bag once, and maybe that's where the scratch came from, but they work fine! Skyler is always bragging about how expensive their stuff is. I'm not paying $150 for a tiny scratch on a piece of plastic. Skyler is just being dramatic."
Secret Interest: Your family is going through financial trouble right now and you literally don't have $150. You're embarrassed about it, so you're acting like the damage doesn't matter to hide the fact that you can't pay.
Case 03: The Art Studio Incident
Mediator Certification Award Peace Makers Academy
Certificate of Mastery
Peer Mediation & Conflict Facilitation
This is to certify that
__________________________________
Candidate Name
Has successfully completed the intensive practitioner training in conflict dynamics, process management, neutral summarization, and sustainable agreement drafting. By passing the Performance Certification, they are officially recognized as a Neutral Third Party capable of facilitating complex disputes.
Lead Instructor
Certified
Peace Makers Seal
Date of Certification
