Restorative Justice
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Restorative Justice is an evidence-based practice that empowers students to resolve conflicts on their own and in small groups. It brings students together in peer-mediated small groups to talk, ask questions, and air grievances. The practice of restorative justice focuses on righting a wrong committed and repairing the harm done. It places value on healthy relationships and focuses on repairing relationships that have been injured. When implemented, Restorative Justice helps strengthen communities, prevents bullying, and reduce student conflicts. It also correlates to reduced suspensions, expulsions, and disciplinary referrals.
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Restorative Practices
Restorative Practice is a social science of promoting and sustaining strong and healthy relationships across the school by implementing proactive and responsive programs; rather than reactive strategies.
Restorative Practices are researched-based set of skills and techniques that build and strengthens relationships and social connections in a community that promotes accountability and responsibility. It serves to repair harm when relationships break down through wrongdoings, mistakes, and misunderstanding. It also helps to improve relationships between students, between students and educators, and even between educators. |
Why Restorative Practices?
Zero-tolerance disciplinary approaches are proven ineffective and excludes students from their schools. As a result, behavior management becomes more challenging and ultimately hurts the relationship between teachers and students.
Restorative Practices are an alternative to behavior disciplinary referrals, suspensions, and expulsions. Implementation of restorative practices increases social capital, fosters healthy relationships, improves individual self-discipline and responsibility, provides skills for self-regulation, increases emotional well-being leading to improved academic outcomes, and improves a community's whole school climate. |
Restorative Circles
Restorative Circles are used to proactively develop relationships and build a sense of community. Restorative Circles, also known as Dialogue Circles, provides a safe environment for individuals involved to speak and listen to one another. It allows educators and students to be heard and an opportunity to offer their own perspectives. Dialogue Circles could also be used reactively to respond to wrongdoing, conflicts, and problems. It is a tool used to teach social skills such as listening, respect, and problem solving.
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References:
Davis, M. (2013). Restorative justice: resources for schools. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-resources-matt-davis
The Schott Foundation for Public Education. (2014). Restorative practices: Fostering healthy relationships & promoting positive discipline in schools.
Retrieved from: http://schottfoundation.org/sites/default/files/restorative-practices-guide.pdf
Davis, M. (2013). Restorative justice: resources for schools. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-resources-matt-davis
The Schott Foundation for Public Education. (2014). Restorative practices: Fostering healthy relationships & promoting positive discipline in schools.
Retrieved from: http://schottfoundation.org/sites/default/files/restorative-practices-guide.pdf