Local kids attain Mediation L- and P-Plates

“WHY won’t my friends play with me?”

The big kid has just taken away a little kid’s ball. The new student has been bullied. X keeps getting teased and called names. Y has been spreading rumours. And Z, you know, the story goes on!

These are a few of the unfortunate examples of poor behaviour among children. It happens occasionally, but it does happen.

For 22 years, three local schools have been doing something about it, with support from the Strzelecki Lions Club for 19 of those years. Lions’ volunteers have been working with teachers and students from Poowong, Nyora and Loch schools to conduct Peer Mediation Training Workshops through on-ground assistance, dispensing little incentives to reward students and financial support for teacher back-up.

Over two days last week, some 44 students from Grade 5 became L-Platers and 34 Grade 6-ers earned their P-Plates. They’ll go back to the schools to more confidently practice their skills and try their best to help out the younger kids.

“It’s all about getting on together in everyday life – learning some skills to enable peer support and help resolve some of the schoolyard and sporting conflicts,” explained Strzelecki Lions member Russell Jones, who, with wife Allison, was helping out in two separate five-hour workshops last week.

Russell suggested that the workshops really showcase the highly skilled teachers at work, through role-playing; purposeful games; getting the best out of kids; noting individual behaviours; deflecting poor behaviour by encouraging good behaviour; inviting each to express themselves; creating awareness; and building co-operation and confidence.

Allison Jones commented how exciting it was to watch the kids’ demeanour change throughout the training day, as they learnt processes, developed skills, and became more confident and excited throughout the day.

“Of course, some problems must be resolved by the teachers, but most can be nipped in the bud and resolved early on by the children themselves," Loch teacher Mark Hunter said.

"The Mediation Training Workshop progresses through understanding about and processes of active listening, peer support, learning about interaction issues, character traits and tools, building skills and the rules of mediation. Also knowing when to try to mediate and when not to! An issue may have to be referred to the teachers if the ‘combatants’ prefer. It’s not surprising that many issues are resolved at this stage!”

Melissa MacQueen, from Poowong Consolidated School, observed how the impacts of the workshop and training were immediately obvious in the schoolyard through better school behaviour.

“But it also has an ongoing influence more broadly with the three schools backing the program up by announcements and further training through the entire school community. A nice indirect outcome is that students sometimes even take their knowledge home to be used in family disputes!”

The Mediation Training is funded via Strzelecki Lions initiatives such as the Loch Village Summer Markets.

The next Strzelecki Lions Club market is this Sunday, March 9 at the Loch Railway Reserve, between 8am and 1pm-ish.