Cool Schools Secondary Programme

Recent research shows that despite our best efforts, school is not always a good experience for many of our young New Zealanders.  The Violence and New Zealand Young People Report, 2007 outlines how researchers anonymously surveyed nearly 10,000 secondary students from 114 randomly selected secondary schools around New Zealand.  The report demonstrates that violence is all too common in the lives of young New Zealanders. Results show 30% of the students surveyed reported being bullied at school in the past year, 20% reported feeeling safe at school sometimes or not at all. The report makes it clear that many young people are not talking to adults about the violence they experience and are not accessing the help that they need. (View report at www.youth2000.ac.nz)

The Good News!
The Peace Foundation is committed to promoting a safe, fun and thriving school environment for all secondary students in New Zealand. In 1995 The Cool Schools Secondary Peer Mediation Programme was written and the programme has since been provided to over 150 secondary schools throughout the country. The aim of the programme is whole school development achieved in a staged process, empowering students by teaching them skills to resolve their own conflicts.

The report: Safe Schools: Strategies to Prevent Bullying released by the Education Review Office in May 2007 makes it clear that while many schools have policies and procedures in place to deal with bullying, Cool Schools is one of the school-wide programmes available which focuses on health, well being and social skills to help support the provision of a safe physical and emotional school environment and the prevention of bullying. (View report at www.ero.govt.nz)

Mt Roskill Grammar has been successfully implementing the Cool Schools Secondary Programme for 15 years. What do teachers and students have to say?

"Peer mediators are "ambassadors of social Justice". They are leaders in the school community promoting fairness  and respect for all students watching out  for harassment and bullying and helping students to get the support they need."  Guidance Counsellor/Programme Co-ordinator

"Learning mediation skills at school has meant that I can help out with family problems at home." Student

"This programme has changed my perspective. Before when I had a problem I would use my fists or/and give verbal abuse. Now I look at the bigger picture. Talking about the problem is much more effective."  Student

"Mediation has been an inspiration to me because it has opened my eyes to appreciating cultural differences." Student

"A practical way of helping students to solve their own problems." Student

"With 10% of school students trained in mediation skills, there is always a trained peer mediator available to help students talk about their problems when they are in conflict."  Student

Full Secondary Training

Full Cool Schools secondary training consists of a 4.5 hour workshop for student mediators and key staff (includes an interval break) and a one hour staff meeting.

Mediators from Auckland Girls Grammar School and Aorere College at the Cool Schools Secondary Symposium 2007

Mt Roskill Grammar mediators with their peace banner

• It empowers students and others in the school community by teaching them skills and processes which are invaluable for life long conflict management and relationship building.
• It is a proactive programme to prevent conflict and becomes part of the school culture.
• It provides students with a safer happier more peaceful learning environment.
• It encourages students to develop the value of service leadership.
• Mediation skills taught are valued  in the  workplace  so students can list "trained mediator" on their CVs.
• It can be taught as part of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum-Relationships with Other People and NZCA unit standards relating to conflict.

   
The Cool Schools Secondary Programme develops key skills such as:

• Active listening
• Understanding conflict (Constructive v Destructive patterns of behaviour)
• Recognising Different Responses to dealing with conflict
• Using "I" Statements
• Learning effective questioning skills
• Understanding the role of the mediator and the mediation process
• Developing strategies to handle difficult situations

The Cool Schools Secondary staff training session includes:

        1.  Understanding conflict (Constructive v Destructive patterns of behaviour)

        2.  Recognising Different Responses to dealing with conflict

        3.  The role of the mediator and the mediation process

        4.  Effective implementation in a secondary school setting

INTERESTED IN YOUR SCHOOLS BEING TRAINED AS A PEACE FOUNDATION PEER MEDIATION SECONDARY SCHOOL?

Your commitment as a Peace Foundation Peer Mediation Secondary School would be:

1. To select a team of school mediators who will participate in the 4.5 hour training (normally from 9 am - 1.30 pm). These students can be a select group taken from all year levels represented in your school or you may choose students from only the senior year levels. We prefer to train no more than 35 students at any one time. This workshop is Part One of the student peer mediator training.


2. To provide a ONE HOUR staff meeting for personal and professional development of staff. This meeting is best held as a staff meeting on the same day as the student training. It is a very valuable experience for teachers. They gain an awareness which really helps in self evaluation of how conflict is dealt with both personally and professionally. Staff are informed about the role of the peer mediator, the mediation process and how they can support the students in this role effectively.


3. To provide a ONE HOUR meeting for the newly appointed co-ordinator/s of the Cool Schools Secondary Peer Mediation Programme at your school. This meeting is normally after the student training and before the staff meeting. Effective implementation strategies and resources are discussed which will assist the co-ordinator/s in "where to from here." At most secondary schools the co-ordinator/s is/are normally the Guidance Counsellor/s.


4. School time will need to be allocated to the co-ordinator/s to complete Part Two of the student peer mediators training. In the Cool Schools Secondary manaual there are 6 skill sessions which need to be covered with students to support them in their role as peer mediators. These sessions take approx. one hour each to complete successfully. Six hours in total.


5. A small budget of approx $300 will need to be allocated to the co-ordinator/s on a yearly basis to cover various expenses to implement the programme effectively.


6. Mediators will need to meet regularly with the co-ordinator for debriefing, up-skilling, discussion on "burning issues", planning and preparation of assembly presentations, etc. These meetings are best during school time if at all possible.

We hope this a helpful guideline in assisting with your decision as to whether or not your school would like to become a Peace Foundation Peer Mediation Secondary School.

Please contact your local regional Cool Schools trainer if you want to find out more information and/or you want to book a training for your school.

Click here to see Cool Schools trainer contact details.

Click here to download the Cool Scools Resource Order Form