Triton School Board Sees Peer Mediation in Action
By Anthony Gadson
BOURBON � Triton School Board members were able to see an example of the school's new peer mediation program in action at Monday's meeting.
Triton students were involved in a two-day peer mediation course a month ago, to help teach them how to deal with situations requiring a peacekeeper between students. Breaking up with a significant other or fighting about money are common topics brought before the teen peer mediators.
The school decided to train students to deal with problems themselves, rather than having an adult always having to step in.
There are 28 students at Triton qualified as peer mediators, in grades seven to 11. Would-be mediators first had to fill out an application, then get recommendations from three teachers. Then they were trained.
Anything told to the mediators is completely confidential, and any notes taken during the session are destroyed afterwards.
There is a faculty member present, to observe the sessions.
Students involved in a dispute enter the room where two mediators are waiting to hear the complaint. The mediators do not work with issues that deal with drugs or sexual assault.
Those asking for mediation are each to give their version of what brought them to mediation; they are not allowed to interrupt each other or use foul language during the session.
The example to the board involved a girl (Brittany) who had spilled soup on her best friend (Zach).
Brittany had been talking about Zach's girlfriend at lunch and � when Zach questioned her about it � Brittany poured soup all over his jeans.
This led to the peer mediation. And a change of jeans for Zach.
When it came to light that Brittany actually had a crush on Zach and had been talking about his girlfriend out of jealousy, a resolution was quickly reached.
The two signed an agreement, which stated Brittany had apologized to Zach.
The mock mediation showed the board members what kind of training that the students had received and how they applied it.
In other business, the board discussed summer school classes that will be offered.
English will be offered for those that did not pass the GQE, driver's education and band will all meet this summer. Remedia-tion courses will take place in August.
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