Fifth-Graders Learn Through a Peer-Mediation Program How to Resolve Conflicts
Posted on: Thursday, 3 November 2005, 06:00 CST
By Holly Prestidge
The responsibility of keeping the peace at Harrowgate Elementary School is in the hands of a few fifth-graders.
Four students from each fifth-grade class at the Chesterfield County school recently spent two days in peer-mediation training in a program called Peacekeepers.
It's designed to let students resolve conflicts among other children.
"We don't give [children involved in the dispute] the solutions," said fifth-grader Peter Luft.
"You have to let them think of that on their own," chimed in Erica Seaborne.
The program started at Harrowgate last school year.
Guidance counselor Lisa St. Pierre and intervention strategist Taffy Jones-Hayes trained the students. St. Pierre said there were 65 mediations that year.
The program works this way:
If two students are fighting or in conflict, they have the option of meeting with Peacekeepers to work out problems. There are two Peacekeepers and the children involved in the dispute. Teachers monitor the meeting but don't get involved.
After the children agree to a few ground rules -- be honest, don't interrupt one another, don't put each other down, work to solve the problem -- each student gives his side of the story.
Then the Peacekeepers help come up with ways to solve problems. They also follow up a short time later to make sure students have kept their word.
Erica said the program will help classmates because they "don't have to go to an adult and feel like they're getting in trouble."
Being a Peacekeeper is a big responsibility. "You have little kids depending on you," said Brianna Walker.
The meetings are mostly for students in grades two and up.
The Peacekeepers said they like helping other students. Some said they'd like to continue as Peacekeepers when they move to Carver Middle School next year. Carver has a Peacekeepers program, too.
"It makes us feel proud because we know we're helping someone," Erica said.
Source: Richmond Times - Dispatch
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