Student 'go-betweens' diffuse fights in the hallways

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15: Back in the day, students who misbehaved were sent to the headteacher for a caning.

But at the Berkeley Institute students and teachers are finding a more innovative approach to dealing with conflict in school is paying dividends.

The ‘peer mediation’ scheme involves senior students resolving conflicts when students clash.

It been credited with ‘changing the climate’ at Berkeley.

While gang violence, sometimes involving youths as young as 13, is increasingly common across Bermuda, staff and students at Berkeley say their school is becoming a more peaceful place.

Fights

Brenton Burgess, head of student services, credits the students in his ‘peer mediation’ group with the turnaround.

“This year there has been a noticeable decrease in fights.

“The climate of the whole school has changed. Students feel more comfortable here than in previous years.”

The students in the programme received training in alternative dispute resolution methods from staff at the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

Whenever there is a disagreement they are called in to talk to the students involved to ensure it does not escalate.

Darico Clarke, 18, said he and his fellow mediators were able to talk candidly to students.

“They open themselves up to us because they are our peers – when they are talking to a teacher they might hold something back.”

He said the aim was not for everyone to be best friends – just to solve the dispute without it getting more serious.

Amber Clarke, also 18, added: “This is a way to resolve conflict without having to have teachers involved. We help them talk out the problem.”

Student mediators are required to inform a teacher when the dispute involves weapons, violence or drugs.

But Chyone Harris, 18, said the results of their work could be seen in fights that did not happen.

He said disputes that led to violence were often caused by rumours and misunderstandings.

Simply getting people together in a room to talk was enough to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation.

“They do open up more once they know you are not taking sides.

“If you respect them and show them you are here to help they respect you more.”

Despite frequent police reports of gang violence involving teenagers, the students say gangs are not a big issue in their school.

They say those involved in gangs are teenagers who have dropped out of school.

But they are worried about the level of violence in the community and believe mediation among gang members could resolve conflicts.

Nicola Feldman, of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said Berkeley was one of the leaders in taking on the initiative among Bermuda’s schools.

“The Berkeley Institute has done a tremendous job implementing an effective programme,” she said.

“Brenton Burgess has been committed to the training, and his group of peer leaders have participated in the training with passion and energy, and have grown tremendously in their mediating abilities.”

Ms Feldman, who trained the students herself, added the Coalition’s training services were sponsored by the XL Foundation.

She urged more schools to take advantage.

“Effective programmes also require school buy in — teachers need to refer to the programme and on-going training needs to be supported by the school to ensure students are sufficiently skilled.

“I think the results at Berkeley clearly demonstrate that putting in the effort is well worth it in the end.”