Commack Peer Mediators Recognized By Legislator

Commack High School's peer mediators were awarded for their services by Legis. Kennedy on June 7 at the W.H. Rodgers Legislature Building in Hauppauge.

The students, who completed a 16-hour peer mediation program as part of their training, help fellow students to solve problems and settle disputes without violence.

Legis. Kennedy presented the 35 students with a certificate of merit, and commended them on their efforts. 

“Here, we have students themselves taking the initiative to courageously step forward and prevent violence among their peers,” he said. “In contrast with government efforts, which are generally only effective as means of punishing after intraschool violence has occurred, the on-the-ground, in-the-moment mediations of students experiencing conflict between their peers are more likely to prevent tragic consequences from occurring in the first place.”

The students trained through the Long Island Dispute Resolution Center of the Education & Assistance Corporation, which partners with school districts to coach peer mediators.