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Peer Mediation started last year when Mr Taylor introduced it to the school. What Peer Mediation is about is to make everyone at our school feel safe.
The Peer Mediators are Year 6 and Mr Taylor. We do a 1 day training course. We mediate between bullies and victims during Recess and Lunch. We don't take sides but try to sort out problems.
Peer Mediation was a great success, last year and this year we want
to decrease the number of bullies even more. I'm a trained Peer Mediator
but I haven't had my first case yet but I'm looking forward to having
my first case.
1. Aims
(i) To reduce and eliminate any kind of distress being caused to any child or group of children by one or more other children.
(ii) To produce a mechanism through which bullying can be resolved.
(iii) To foster the development of a caring student community inwhich
all children can feel happy, secure and safe.
2. What is bullying?
Bullying is based upon a threat and fear; once a pattern is established the bully has to do very little to produce fear in the victim. The victim then finds it almost impossible to break the cycle.
(i) Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking, rude gestures, extortion, pushing and shoving, taking or damaging another persons belongings.
(ii) Verbal bullying includes name calling, insulting, repeated teasing, racist remarks, threatening and any other form of verbal behaviour designed to hurt another.
(iii) Indirect bullying includes spreading nasty rumours, excluding someone from social groups and other hurtful actions.
(iv) Fights between students which are 'one off' and are not part
of some form of continual bullying are to dealt with by the teacher as outlined
in the School Discipline Policy.
3. Strategies for reducing the incidence of bullying include
(i) Openly discussing bullying, within the classroom and foster a culture of respect and support for others.
(ii) Teach children skills for empowering themselves and give them the opportunity to practise these skills.
(iii) Train Peer Mediators to help resolve problems involving bullying.
(iv) Ensure the policy clearly states what action the school will take against bullying behaviour.
(v) Ensure the playground is safe and all areas are supervised during breaks including toilets.
(vi) Ensure that teachers and all other adults involved with the school,
model nonbullying behaviours.
4. Methods of reporting of bullying within the school
Children within the school may choose to report bullying in any of the following ways -
(i) To tell a teacher.
(ii) To tell a prefect.
(ii) To tell a Peer Mediator.
(iii) To tell other children.
5. Implementing the Peer Mediation Policy
(i) Survey the children (Years 2-6) to obtain their views on bullying.
(ii) Survey parents to obtain their views on bullying.
(iii) Train Year 6 as Peer Mediators at the beginning of each year.
(iv) Teachers to teach the lesson outlines in the Peer Mediation Kit with their classes to skill children to reduce the incidence of bullying in the school in Term 1.
(vi) Inform children, teachers and parents about the policy.
(vii) Records of incidents of bullying, action taken by Peer Mediators and Resolution Agreement shall be filed and kept by the Convenor of the Peer Mediation Program.
(viii) Organise a play to be performed for the children in the hall.
6. If Peer Mediation is not successful actions may include
(i) If a child does not agree to attend a Peer Mediation meeting whilst on the playground the Peer Mediator should report this to the teacher on duty who will send the child to the Principal's Office and ensure the Peer Mediator reports the matter to the Convenor of the Peer Mediation Program who will then meet with the child and decide further action.
(ii) If bullying continues after Peer Mediation another Peer Mediation
will take place. The same Peer Mediators will revise the previous discussions
and agreement. A new agreement will be made.
(iii) The matter may be referred to the Peer Mediation supervisor
to recommend actions which may include continued further peer mediation by
children, or mediation by the Peer Mediation Supervisor or implementing the
School Discipline Policy.
7. Evaluation of the Peer Mediation Program
The program must be evaluated on a regular basis to analyse its effectiveness and any need to modify its wording or implementation.
(i) Children will be surveyed with the survey provided in the kit before the program is commenced. Further surveys will be held after the program has commenced and results compared to the initial survey to equate effectiveness.
(ii) Comments by children, Peer Mediators, teachers and parents may
be kept in a book or file.
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