Restorative Justice
What is it?
Restorative justice is new approach to discipline that has been implemented by different school systems. This approach gives teachers, students and staff a new method when it comes to dealing with issues and problems that arise in school. Restorative justice is looking at discipline as a community rather than focusing on individuals. Restorative Justice is an approach originally used in the justice system that emphasizes: (1) repairing harm, (2) bringing together all affected to collaboratively figure out how to repair harm, and (3) giving equal attention to community safety, victims’ needs, and offender accountability and growth. (1)
How does it work?
Restorative justice must begin with a different outlook on discipline. First, the school and classrooms need to create and build a sense of community. After the school and the classrooms build a sense of community it will become easier to repair any harm. Repairing harm is important because it will to those who were affected come face to face to those who harmed. Restorative justice is not about facing off individuals but bringing them together to mediate the conflicts. This approach encourages those who harm to take responsibility in order for those who were harm to heal. Restorative justice creates growth, accountability and teaches new skills.
Outcomes of restorative justice.
There are many positive outcomes that might arise when restorative justice is introduced in schools as a new way to discipline.
- Less student suspensions/expulsions
- Safer schools
- Increase in academics
- Increase of students in extracurricular activities
- Increase of teachers involvement in students life
- Keeps students out of the criminal justice system
- Restores communities
- Teachers and students learn new ways to deal with conflict
Let's restore!
We change educational curriculum all the time trying to figure out what is the best way our students can learn. Why then can we not try a change on how we discipline our students. We know that the system we have now is not being effective then why do we keep using it. I think that there is nothing lost in trying new ways.
We change educational curriculum all the time trying to figure out what is the best way our students can learn. Why then can we not try a change on how we discipline our students. We know that the system we have now is not being effective then why do we keep using it. I think that there is nothing lost in trying new ways.
Proof that restorative justice works.
- A UC Berkeley study of a Restorative Justice program at Cole Middle School in Oakland showed an 89% drop in suspensions from 2006-2007.
- At Richmond High School in West Contra Costa Unified School District, as reported by New American Media, a 2011 Restorative School Discipline Program had cut the school’s nearly 500 suspensions by January 2011 in half by January 2012.4 In 2013-14, the school had 167 suspensions.
- West Philadelphia High School was on the state’s “Persistently Dangerous Schools” list for six years. After one year of implementing Restorative Justice, the climate improved dramatically: suspensions dropped 50%,5 violent acts and serious incidents declined 52% in 2007–2008, and another 40% by the end of the Fall semester in 2008-2009. (1)
Lets take a look!
Helpful links
Resources
Camp Stomping Ground. (February 18, 2017) What is restorative justice? let's restore our broken system. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq554Oxc8js
Faer, L. and Omojola, S. Fix school discipline: how we can fix school discipline toolkit for educators. Public counsel. (1)
Iverson, D. (May 23, 2017) Restorative justice in schools. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLgBSiDLaQU
Faer, L. and Omojola, S. Fix school discipline: how we can fix school discipline toolkit for educators. Public counsel. (1)
Iverson, D. (May 23, 2017) Restorative justice in schools. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLgBSiDLaQU