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Originally Posted by Bad Brains  If medical help were free, I'd agree. |
at my school, we have a couple of schemes; a lower school mentoring scheme and an upper school mentoring scheme...
in the upper school mentoring scheme, they pick a group of around 10 year 12 pupils, who work with year 7-10 pupils who are feared by teaching staff to have really serious problems... things like violence at home, abuse, the list goes on, we have to deal with some really heartbreaking issues... we have to evaluate whether the police should be involved (there's a child protection agent in the school we liaise with), which teachers need to know, if any, and what action should be taken (both by the pupil and by the school). basically, we need to find out what, if anything, is the problem. Most pupils really open up to the idea of being able to talk to someone relaxed, more understanding, closer to their age group... If it doesn't work first time, we sometimes have to think creatively (take the pupil for a game of football, go and sit under the stairs, anything which might help them connect)
In the lower school mentoring scheme, the pupils are not recommended or put forward to take part in this scheme, but instead the pupil volunteers themselves to go and get some help or advice on a particular issue. This scheme is run by year 11 pupils, who work with years 7-11 on issues which are more social than anything else. bullying, friendship groups, mild drug abuse, mild depression...
I know some people will be skeptical about it, but I can genuinely say that it really does work. Of course it's not perfect... but very effective. If anyone wants some more information, feel free to pm me.
