Case Study 3 - Mediation Survival

At 9.30pm one evening Jane, a duty social worker was called to a police station to see a ten year old girl, Lara. Lara had walked into the police station saying, "I'm here because I'm afraid I'm going to kill my mummy."

Lara's mum had been an alcoholic for most of the girl's life which created an atmosphere of perpetual violence and uncertainty at home. When Jane arrived she talked with Lara and her mother separately to see if it might be possible for Lara to go home that night but to no avail. So Jane began the 25 minute drive to Lara's grandmother's house to be cared for there.

On this short car journey, Jane asked Lara why she was afraid that she might kill her mummy.  Lara replied, "Because I knew the conflict was escalating, and I couldn't stop it so I had to walk out." Jane told Lara how impressed she was at word 'escalating' and Lara explained that she been taught peer mediation at her school. She then proceeded to explain the stages of the mediation process to Jane. Lara said that from peer mediation she had learned that she can't change how mummy behaves but she can stop herself from going up the conflict escalator and when she can't stop it she has to take herself away.

Lara was a pupil at a school where Peaceworks took lessons in 2006. This heart-rending story tells us that peer mediation in schools is not just about making the playground a happier place or adding skills to able children. For some it can also be about emotional survival skills.