Practice Safe Stress

November 2004

Students Helping Students

~THE MEDIATION CORNER~

Sponsored by the Region IV Peer Mediation Coordinators, the purpose of this website is to keep parents informed about the mediation program and about issues that may be of concern in dealing with middle and high school students. Each month will have a specific theme;

“STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS”

We Can Work It Out!

“For it is not enough to talk about peace.

One must believe in it.

And it’s not enough to believe in it.

One must work at it.”

                       ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Peer mediation is a program that actively works at the peaceful resolution of conflict in our schools. Recent media events have taught us that seemingly trivial disputes can spiral out of control and result in tragedy for our young people. Peer mediation begins in elementary school, but it really becomes important during the middle and high school years, when the turbulence of adolescence generates such “drama” that students are often unable to concentrate on their studies!  “He said/she said”, boyfriend/girlfriend/relationship issues, put-downs and misunderstandings are the most frequent causes of disputes for teens.

Rather than let these issues escalate, peer mediators, under the supervision of a faculty member/mediation specialist, intervene to assist their fellow students in the process of resolving their conflicts responsibly and peacefully. Trained in the peace process, the mediators help the disputants to listen to each other and work together to find a solution to their problem. They practice the

“Rules for Fighting Fair”, which are as follows:

1.    Identify the problem.

2.    Focus on the problem.

3.    Attack the problem, not the person.

4.    Listen with an open mind.

5.    Treat a person’s feelings with respect.

6.    Take responsibility for your actions.

Following established procedures in the mediation process, the mediators set the ground rules, gather data about the problem, and brainstorm with the disputants about possible solutions.  The mediation culminates with the signing of a contract by both disputants, and a handshake to seal the agreement. By coming to peer mediation, the disputants have avoided suspension, detention, or other punitive measures; instead, they have gained practice in solving problems without violence.

The cornerstone of the peer mediation program is “CONFIDENTIALITY” about what transpired during the mediation on the part of both mediators and disputants. If information involving serious threats, drugs, weapons or abuse is shared, the supervising adult must be notified. However, the basic trust that what is said during the mediation will not be shared with other students or teachers is essential to the success of the program.

Peer mediation has been found to be an important alternative to suspension, and is instrumental in the maintenance of a safe, orderly and caring environment in our schools.

WEBLIOGRAPHY ~ For further information on Peer Mediation, the following links are provided:

http://www.schoolmediation.com

http://www.mediation.com

http://www.articles.com/p/search?tb=art&qt=%2BPeer+%2BMediation