Students Dive Into Disputes Using Mediation Skills Training Helps Volunteers Defuse Conflicts, Standoffs Through Listening, Fairness

Sixth-grader Travis Kitchens raised his voice: “Give me back my ball!”

When fourth-grader Drew Field refused, two other elementary school students stepped in.

The boys weren’t tugging on a playground ball, they were role-playing to give other students practice in helping to resolve disputes.

Central Valley schools have started a districtwide peer mediation program for students in elementary grades through high school.

After staff members were trained, 20 students from each high school, 10 from each junior high, and two from each grade school went through one-day workshops last week.

In this exercise, mediators Adam Fitterer of Broadway Elementary and Chelsey McKnight of Sunrise Elementary followed a step-by-step process.

After introducing themselves as “conflict managers” and offering their help, they got Travis and Drew to agree to work together to solve the problem.

Both sides told their story, explained how they felt, then were encouraged to suggest solutions.

“We can share the ball” by taking turns each week, Travis offered eventually.

“Congratulations,” Chelsey told them.

Problem solved.

“The technique is being used all over the country at this point,” said Laurie Sheffler, assistant principal at University High School.

At junior high, students might be working on problems with sharing lockers or loaning CDs. High school mediators might help with conflicts over borrowing cars.

“The primary goal of the program is to help students think about the consequences,” said Marilyn Burkhart, a University High School counselor. “They need to learn how to stop and reflect before the problem gets out of hand.”

“While this program gives students the skills necessary in resolving problems that arise with their peers,” Burkhart said, “it will also aid them in solving problems in their personal lives, outside of the school setting.”

But school officials are quick to point out that this is not an alternative to discipline.

“It’s a way for kids to solve their own problems before it becomes a discipline problem,” Sheffler said.

The training session last week taught students how to listen well and approach problems rationally and fairly.

Nancy Nguyen, a fifth-grader at South Pines Elementary, said that she anticipates mediating classmates who call each other names.

“You’ve got to listen really hard to know who’s saying what,” she said.

Sheffler and others will hold four follow-up sessions for the participants in the spring and summer.

It all adds up for Freeman

Freeman High School took first place in last week’s Northeast A League mathematics competition.

The NEA League contest, held last Wednesday at Deer Park High School, has been going on for five years, said Peggy Jeremiah, Freeman’s math coach.

It gives students a chance to prepare for the regional contest, which started in 1980, she said.

Freeman’s eight-student team will compete in the regional contest March 15 at Eastern Washington University.

On the team are seniors Jenna Freeman, Kari Mills and Nathan Ramsey; juniors Ryan Hemingway, Geoff Morton and Jeremy VanVoorhis; sophomores Jenny Burton and Ryan Nottingham.

Ramsey and Hemingway also won three ribbons each for individual math events.

Gang awareness meeting

The Mountain View Middle School Parent Organization will hold a community meeting about gang awareness on March 9.

Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Van Leuvan will address the increase in gang activity and violent crime in Valley neighborhoods.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at Mountain View Middle School, N6011 Chase Road in Newman Lake.

MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the Valley Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Write: Education Notebook, Valley Voice, E13208 Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Fax: 927-2175.