Peer Mediation /Leadership Training

In today’s learning environment, school districts, administrations and parent groups prefer to expose their students to “Assembly” programs” that promote the message of tolerance. Often these shows are poignant, amusing and informative. Unfortunately they do not leave a lasting impression. The show moves on but the students remain (often times the same). In essence nothing has changed, unless the administration or parent groups recognize the need for this message to be reinforced on a daily basis by the students to the students. If the intent is to create a culture of cooperation, leadership, civic responsibility and anti bully initiatives, a foundation of skill based peer mediation and anti violence curriculum need to be put in place. Once in place, students must have access to this curriculum so their skills can be utilized on a daily basis. This format will allow students to “connect” their skills to the student population. Concepts of respect, non-violence and the possibilities of a better day in effect become the norm.

This foundation is generally referred as the “Peer Mediation Center”.
A place where infinite possibilities can emerge. From this room mediations take place between students {face to face} with a faculty member close by for support and instruction. Here students are encouraged to discuss their issues and concerns with each other. It is a place where their voices are heard and their words have meaning. Through their words they will find solutions. It will be through their solutions they will discover self-respect. Through the center students will discover everyone is treated as an equal and are all connected to the basic issues of respect and non- violence.

Peer mediators/educators will also visit classrooms to share their skill training and engage their peers in dialogue regarding issues of peace and non-violence. This can be achieved through film, role-playing and discussion. This function also reinforces the peer mediator as a role model for others to emulate. In essence they set the tone for others to follow. This program can be extended to other schools where students can compare methodology, share ideas and network.

Community reinforcement is achieved by recognizing peer mediators/negotiators as they assume a leadership role in their school and in their community. Skills learned at school are transferred into the home and neighborhood.

This is how you promote peace. You offer the students something tangible. A program they can call their own. It is a program that “belongs” to the students. It is a program that reaches the student population from the bottom up. It takes place in the hub of the classroom motivated by the good works of the peer educators. The Peer Coordinator plays a pivotal role in supervising this program by giving the students the “tools” to empower and change a culture from conflict to cooperation.

Why are so many school administrators reluctant to establish peer mediation/education programs? Time, money, physical space and union constraints are offered as obstacles in implementing a program. Change requires risk . If programs are not in place that promote anti-bullying and leadership on a daily basis, what are we leaving to the students? Without conflict resolution programs in place what are the students teaching each other? Is a culture of cruelty becoming the norm over a culture of cooperation and respect? Studies are coming out that point to a more general atmosphere of meanness, where teasing and taunting are the norm amongst students, rather than the exception In a recent survey of nearly 70,000 students’ grades 6-12, only 37% said they show respect for one another, fewer than half considered themselves positive role models.