Published: May 10, 2007 12:59 am            

Lion Tamers: Practicing peer mediation

More than a dozen 11- and 12-year-olds are practicing the fine art of lion taming at one local elementary school.

But it’s not what you might think. They aren’t using whips and chairs to train the big cats. Instead, students in the Lion Tamers group at Monroe Elementary School are helping other students stay out of trouble by practicing peer mediation.

The fifth- and sixth-graders participating in the program have been helping other students when they get in trouble by talking with them and following steps outlined for peer mediation they’ve been taught and have practiced.

“Lion Tamers help kids when they’re in trouble so they don’t have to go to the principal’s office,” said Claire Andrews, one of the 15 Lion Tamers. The students are recognized by badges and often can be recognized on the playground carrying handheld portable radios so teachers who may need them can immediately find them.

Joanna Moats, a School and Family Enrich-ment (SAFE) counselor at Monroe and other school sites, developed the program after Monroe Principal Kay Kiner suggested it.

“Mrs. Kiner thought it would be great to have a peer mediation program,” Moats said.

Moats researched programs and found a model which helped them create their own program.

Peer mediator Natalia Szczepaniak said the process first involves introductions and setting the ground rules for the mediation. They ask what happened and why they got into trouble. Often, the mediation ends with an apology after the mediator asks for suggestions on how to solve it.

Moats said she’s impressed with the Lion Tamers’ attitude and work ethic, and she’s confident the students have learned social skills to help them outside of school and the program.

The students all said they had met new people since practicing peer mediation and they all agreed helping others makes them feel good.

“I think the kids like to talk to kids about other kids,” said Sarah Blakely. “They know more about what’s going on.”

And the students also agreed its always better when they can help solve problems without the student going to the principal’s office and getting into even more trouble.

Teachers recommended the students for the program and parents had to approve. The group, under the leadership of Moats, began training in November and started the peer mediation in January.

Moats has since written to counselors at the junior highs and let them know which students had been trained in the program. The sixth- graders may choose to become an Irish Ambassador, the Emerson Junior High School peer mediation program. The fifth-graders can return as sixth-grade Lion Tamers.

Moats said the Lion Tamers work in teams of two and are trained to allow the student to try to work out the problem themselves instead of immediately offering suggestions.

The group meets once weekly and co-captains Nathan Cushman and Cody Welch send out teams to mediate.

The groups go around to every classroom explaining the program and each Tamer carries around paperwork in folders to help them through the mediation. The information includes a contract that states the date, mediators, students in conflict, the problem, steps taken and a solution. All parties are asked to sign the form with the understanding if problems continue, the principal, counselors or parents may become involved.

The notes also help the students ask the right questions and brainstorm on how the mediation went.

Other peer mediators are Tony Salcido, Kristen Duncan, Andrew Lewis, Zahira Rojo, Aislynn Leyva, Jesus Camarena, Jacklyn Maloy, Giezi Flores, Annie Moss and Austin Metzger.