Peer Mediation at Greensburg Junior High

“The coolest thing about Peer Mediation is that we’re not just learning skills to use now, but we’re learning skills we’ll use our whole lives.”

So says one of Greensburg Junior High’s Peer Mediators. Peer Mediation is a process proven to reduce student conflict, and that teaches young people to work through problems in a systematic, rational way. Nine eighth graders and two seventh graders completed two weeks of training in the summer of ’02 that included two days at the Columbus Youth Camp doing team-building activities. This is our third year of offering peer mediation, and this alternative form of handling conflicts continues to gain appeal. The power of peer mediation lies in the clearly defined roles and expectations of the “disputants”, and the fact that these disputants are responsible for coming up with their own solutions. As one of the mediators said recently, “The hardest thing about mediation is that you want to speak out and tell them (disputants) what to do, but you know that it’s better when they figure it out themselves.” All the participants are learning the power of experiential education, and taking ownership in the process of learning. When peers are helping the process along, the atmosphere for problem-solving is less threatening, and more likely to end in a successful plan to prevent further problems.

Mr. Johnson, our assistant principal, can refer students to peer mediation, as can staff members, and students themselves. Ms. Cruser, school counselor and sponsor of the peer mediators, can also refer appropriate disputes. The most common sort of disputes referred are the common ‘name-calling’ or “miscommunication-created” problems. Peer relationships issues are appropriate for peer mediation, as are boyfriend/girlfriend kinds of issues. There are some problems that would not be appropriate to refer to peer mediation including family issues, issues of abuse or alcohol/tobacco/other drug use, teacher/student conflicts, etc. We plan to expand Peer Mediation into the high school for the ’03-04 school year.

This year’s Peer Mediators at the junior high are: Brenden Barker, Ashley Dornich, Val Hagerty, Kelli Hahn, Kim Koors, Mollye Leas, Jasmine Littrell, Kyle Menkedick, Dominika Roberts, Christian Rust, and Stew Smith.

These students meet weekly to role play, continue building skills, and to debrief. They’ve exhibited outstanding work ethics and insight, and are dedicated to helping their fellow students. They also are integrating invaluable skills into their own lives. As the old quote states, “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason….we’re to listen twice as much as we speak…” Another mediator says it better. “Before I always wanted to put my opinion into every conversation. Now I understand that it’s more important to listen.”