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By GEOFF FRANK
A group of 27 Norwell Middle School students completed a two-day training program last week in peer mediation.
The training is part of Project PEACE (Peaceful Endings Through Attorneys, Children and Educators), a program now in its ninth year at the school.
Students learn skills that help them become conflict managers, helping other students find peaceful solutions to their problems in a structured setting.
Guidance counselors Jan Vogleman and Angie McKean said issues taken to mediation include gossip/rumors, “he said/she said” situations, hurt feelings, name calling, personality conflicts, peer pressure, and student/student issues.
Students with issues that might be resolved successfully through mediation can be referred by teachers, principals, the school nurse, a bus driver, or a fellow student. Students also can refer themselves to the program.
Two mediators team up to work with the two students involved in the peer mediation. Mediators will be the same grade level and same gender as the disputants, who must agree to participate in mediation or their issue will not be discussed.
Among issues the program does not tackle are those involving violence, illegal activity or violations of rules contained in the school handbook.
Vogleman, McKean, Principal Robert Hansbarger and local attorney Keith Huffman worked with the students during the off-site training at Christian Care Retirement Community.
Huffman is an adviser representing the Wells County Bar Association and has participated in the program since its inception at Norwell Middle School.
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