9 Answers about Peer Mediation Programs
Fairfield Center is proud to be part of implementing effective peer mediation programs in schools. Over the years, Fairfield has encountered some frequent questions regarding peer mediation. Here is a selection with answers.
Learn more about Fairfield’s Peer Mediation Program and/or contact us for more information.
- What qualifications should students have to be mediators?
Students should see mediators as helpers; people with whom they would feel comfortable talking. Mediators should have the respect of other students. It is critical that the whole student body feel represented by the mediators: diversity in socio-economic levels, ethnicity, peer groupings, and gender representation are essential. Mediators also need to be able to keep up their grades by making up missed class work. - How many mediators should be trained?
The demand for mediators will vary at each school so the appropriate number of students to train could range from 8–20. If there are not enough cases to keep all of the mediators busy, alternative school activities can be designed to use their skills. Keep in mind that 8, 12 and 16 are convenient numbers for training because mediation role plays require groupings of four students. - When will the training be scheduled?
Student training is usually held during school hours. The times can be alternated so the students will not miss the same class consistently. Students are required to make up all work missed. Some schools arrange to hold training during after-school hours or in the summer. - Which issues will be mediated?
Each school must decide which issues are appropriate for mediation and which demand more traditional disciplinary measures. Mediation is voluntary. Most cases include such issues as gossip, name-calling, not returning borrowed items, relationship difficulties, etc. - Which issues will NOT be mediated?
Most schools will not mediate issues involving weapons, drugs, or serious physical violence. - How do you continue the program and train new mediators after the first year?
As the trained mediators get ready to graduate to another level at school, new mediators will be needed. These should be selected from the class that will come of age that year. This new group is given the same training the others received and then joins the remaining group for that year. This is an excellent time to include some of the experienced mediators so they can sharpen their skills. They may help with role plays and other small group exercises. - Is the program misused by students to get out of class?
This occurs infrequently but when it does, it is usually discovered quickly by the mediators or faculty coordinator. - Are there limits to the program’s guarantee of confidentiality?
Students are told that everything they say will be kept confidential unless threats are made. If mediation is used as an alternative to a disciplinary process, the program coordinator may report to the appropriate administrators only the fact that an agreement was (or was not) reached. Remember that it is critical to keep mediation problems confidential. Failure to do so can spread distrust and jeopardize the whole program. - How do we get started at our school?
Contact the Fairfield Center! Call 540-434-0059 or use this form.
Posted: July 19th, 2010 under Benefits of Mediation, Communications Training, Families, Why Mediation?.
Tags: peer mediation, school mediation