Peacemakers in Training

Although the programs have had some successes, critics say they worry that schools could view them as a cure-all.

"Quite commonly, people are putting this out as a solution. I think that's wishful thinking," said Daniel Webster, an associate director for research at the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence. "Peer mediation just doesn't match the dynamics of more serious forms of youth violence and how that plays out."

Jason Will, a Prince William sixth-grader, expects to conduct his first mediation soon, but he said he worries that most students will be shy about exposing their problems to people their age. "I think that they might feel embarrassed if they went to it," he said. "But if they knew that it was going to be confidential, then more people would want to do it."

His mother, Anne Will, said she initially was worried about her son's participation. "I called the guidance counselor because when you're in the sixth grade, peer pressure is a big thing," she said. "She told me that he wouldn't mediate anyone he knows."

Lindsey Chiles, a Prince William County fifth-grader, mediated her first dispute in December. A girl was upset and confused that her friend was ignoring her at recess. "It makes me feel like I should be a role model for the school," Lindsey said. "I should be able to solve conflicts without going to a counselor."

At the Prince William peer mediation conference last week, middle school students acted out a mediation between two boys fighting over a baseball card. One had traded his card and realized later that it was very valuable.

"I feel real angry because I didn't know," said Trey Slaughter, a Parkside Middle School student.

"What's your side of the story?" Jessica Davis, a student at Rippon Middle School, asked Brandon Humphries, also from Parkside.

"He should have known. I feel like I deserve it because it's mine already," Brandon said.

Jessica responded in an upbeat tone: "What are some ways that you could solve the problem?"

Trey ultimately agreed to fork over five dollars to get his card back.