Until they developed a mutual attraction for the same boy, the two teenage girls had been the best of friends. That’s when the arguments began. When nasty Facebook messages proliferated, peers choose sides and false rumours and innuendo dominated the school corridors. Then it got physical.

School administrators – at both the secondary and elementary levels – can readily identify the dynamics of these disputes. Erroneous assumptions and judgements become multi-layered arguments that bury the relatively minor conflict that started it all, ultimately triggering threats and/or physical violence.

Increasingly, administrators are turning to CJI for assistance. With the help of CJI-trained peer meditators, students embroiled in such conflicts discuss their issues in a safe atmosphere that promotes understanding while clearing up destructive assumptions and preparing damaged relationships.