Information sheet
Print
 |
Whole school community |
| |
Building a safe and supportive school and preventing bullying |
| |
Provide opportunities through the curriculum for the diversity of students (and staff) to develop relevant knowledge and skills in positive communication |
Peer support networks work best within a school culture that already teaches, models and supports equitable power sharing and respectful relationships between all groups and cooperative solutions to problems. These networks empower students to recognise, challenge and support each other in addressing discriminatory behaviours and other social problems as powerful participants rather than passive consumers.
Mediation is one form of peer support. Trained students called mediators
help their peers to equitably and fairly sort out interpersonal problems or
disagreements. The mediation process is voluntary. Each person is allowed
to tell their side of the story and how they feel about the problem. The mediators
explore common concerns and help their peers look at the issues and work out
an agreement that both parties are happy with and both think is fair and equitable.
A small urban high school has recruited and trained students as a peer mediation team. The school has found that while peer mediation won't work for all situations, it can solve problems and help to make life at school happier.
Schools in action:
Problem solving through peer
mediation
A primary school peer support program has had positive effects throughout the primary school. The skills-based experiential learning program operates once a week. Upper primary students are trained as group leaders and have groups of approximately ten Year 1 to 5 students. The groups are taken through sessions designed to focus on self-awareness, communication, decision making and problem solving. The approach is designed to develop effective support networks. A variety of learning strategies are used including discussion and role-play.
Mediation training for teenagers - trainer's manual. Lyn Marx, Helena Cornelius, Sonya Hall (1989?)
Chatswood, N.S.W: The Conflict Resolution Network
A 13 week training and implementation program for teaching high school students (year 10) in peer mediation skills. Process, reading and activities are included.
Peer Mediation: Conflict Resolution in Schools Schrumpf, F., Crawford, Donna K. & Bodine, Ricahrd. J. (1997) (Revised edition)
Champaign, Illinois: Research Press
A comprehensive 332 page program guide and a 100 page student manual. Materials are directly applicable to secondary students and staff, and can be adapted for upper primary groups. Includes broader understandings of conflict and social problem solving skills relevant to all students, and sections on working with cultural and social diversity, differing values and cliques.
Social Alternatives 21(1)
January 2002, pp. 33 - 38.
This edition of the Social Alternatives journal focuses on peace education. Articles include 'Good Training is Not Enough: Research on Peer Mediation Program Implementation' and lists of associated references.
