A group of peer mediators is here to help the students of Thomas Jefferson work things out.
From left to right: Michael Davis, Matthew Averyhart, Asia Dorsey, Cassie Cherry, Akaxia Cruz, Jared Lewis, Andrew Craig, Lauren Abrams, Rhea Boyd, Karina Desroses, Rebecca Holt, Jamie Veasley. photo by Manny Perez
Peace Panel, a new student committee at TJ, is an alternative counseling service being offered to students who are troubled by conflicts and issues amongst themselves and their peers.
The Peace Panel was created to install a group of peer mediators who are responsible for helping solve conflicts that arise within the student body at TJ. Conflicts can range from personal matters to differences between friends or enemies. The Peace Panel will strive to help students in any way they can. For example, if student “A” is offended by rumors supposedly spread by student “B”, both (or either) students can schedule a meeting with a peer mediator to resolve the problem in a productive, healthy manner. Or if student “C” is having a problem with someone, including friends, partners, or family, and just needs to talk to a trusted individual (who is not an adult), he or she can schedule a meeting with a peer mediator. “I feel as if students would be more comfortable with their peers because we understand them and the things they are going through better,” said Panel President Andrew Craig.
There is no specific issue needed qualify for a meeting; the services offered by the Peace Panel can be used at the student’s discretion. “Students should be able to come to the Panel with any issue, because we are committed to helping all of them,” Craig said.
Students can be assured that confidentiality will be maintained. Of course, if the conflict involves anyone getting hurt or abused, it will become the mediator’s responsibility to report it to a professional, trustworthy adult. “Basically, any problems consisting of harm to self or harm to others needs to be reported,” said Counselor Erin Thompson, who is helping the Peace Panel get on its feet.
Craig and Matthew Averyhart, juniors at TJ, created this group of intermediaries by bringing a proposal to Principal Sandra Just. The Panel also consists of Vice President Rebecca Holt and a dedicated assembly of handpicked mediators. According to Craig and Averyhart’s proposal, the Peace Panel is a “student organization whose sole purpose is to mediate individual and community issues that occur within the TJ community.”
Principal Just looks forward to this addition to TJ’s resources for students. “My hope with the creation of the Peace Panel is to continue to empower students in resolving problems and looking to fellow students for help,” she said.
At each Peace Panel meeting, mediators discuss and find ways to help the students of TJ become comfortable with the concept of peer counseling along with appropriate tactics to resolve quarrels. Thompson is present at each meeting, providing the mediators with professional ways to intervene. “I hope the Peace Panel can bring the TJ community together. We have a lot of diversity but also many groups that have conflicts or just know nothing about one another,” Thompson said.
If students would like to have a meeting with a mediator they can e-mail the Peace Panel at PPTJHS@gmail.com or talk to any teacher or staff member about contacting a mediator.
