Peer Mediators Help Work Things Out at Irene King

Students helping students. That’s what ’s Peer Mediation program is all about.

“It’s hard for younger kids to talk things out,” said King social worker Rebecca Misheikis, one of two staff members who oversee the program. “If there is some sort of conflict, we would love to have them work it out themselves. But if they need a mediator, our kids are here.”

An Irene King Peer Mediator must be in fifth grade and is usually nominated by a teacher. Mediators undergo a six-week training period, learning skills that enable them to listen to both sides.

“It gives them an opportunity to take on a leadership role that they might not otherwise have,” said sponsor Whitney Labriola, King’s school psychologist.

The system is simple. A teacher or administrator who witnesses some sort of conflict fills out a yellow sheet of paper requesting a mediation. Conflicts could include such things as spreading rumors, friendship difficulties, borrowing something and not returning it, rules of games or not playing fairly. Two Peer Mediators are assigned to the conflict and they listen to both sides, generally following a script prepared for them in advance.

“They have some leeway to add some of their own input,” Labriola said. “It’s not always nice and neat where you can just follow the script.”

With the help of the mediators, the students in conflict must find some middle ground.

“They don’t have to leave a mediation being best friends,” Misheikis said. “But the point is they need to respect each other in school so the problem doesn’t come up again.”

“It’s not really meant to be a disciplinary thing,” Labriola added. “We advocate it as a positive problem-solving choice.”

The subjects of the mediation must sign a contract that includes the resolution. If they break the contract, “we talk about it again,” according to Misheikis.

The average mediation takes 15 minutes and Peer Mediators handle two mediations each school year.

“The mediators actually get the most out of it,” Misheikis said. “It gives them a sense of pride. They feel a connection to each other and the school. And they know they need to be role models themselves.”

As for the students involved in the conflict, Misheikis is quick to add “They know someone in the school cares about them."