"We began by solving mostly petty disputes," advisor Tom Murray said. What started out as a small group of 22 mediators in 1992 has grown to become a largely successful organization that now holds between 80 and 100 mediations per year. From petty disputes to more serious problems, peer mediation is becoming the preferred method of handling conflict at Newark High School.
"It has done much to relieve the workload that administrators had experienced in the past in dealing with student related conflicts," Murray said. The group's high mediation success rate of 95 percent also relieves the need for further staff intervention.
While different conflict resolution techniques exist, Newark has worked to develop their own mediation training. Individuals interested in the program attend a 16 hour group training program featuring issues related to conflict (anger, sexual harassment, male/female relations) and icebreaker activities to orient the mediators. The students then break into smaller groups to focus on important mediation tactics like listening skills and how to ask open-ended questions to those in conflict.
Whether new or experienced, mediators always read from a phase sheet which lists the steps of a walk-through mediation:
-Respectful listening
-Each disputant shares his/her side of the story
-Both sides of story summarized by mediators
-Disputants share their feelings towards the situation
-Disputants brainstorm suggestions for a solution
-Sign and seal contract, wrap up mediation
Disputants also agree to a follow up in one week to ensure that the resolution is working.
Newark's successful peer mediation program has gained both local and national recognition. Recently the State Department of Education and the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution honored the team at a celebration in Columbus during Conflict Management Week for their efforts. Selected students and Murray also conducted workshops of their techniques at the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution last May in Phoenix.
The group also teaches mediation skills at camps, churches and schools. Newark High School has over 2,300 students and between 6 and 8 principals, so the need for an effective program within the school and community is vital. Student mediator Alana Hamilton said, "It's a great program. I really like what I'm doing and the service is essential to our school."
Over 1,200 Ohio public schools, K-12, report having some form of a conflict management program in their school. For more information on peer mediation at Newark High School, please contact advisor Tom Murray at 740-587-2939.
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