Restorative Practices

The social science of restorative practices is an emerging field of study that enables people to restore and build relationships and community in an increasingly disconnected world. Taking its beginnings from the Restorative Justice movement, Restorative practices is a practical approach to interacting with students, and is a set of techniques & philosophies that can be applied in any context. In schools, the use of restorative practices has been shown to reliably reduce misbehavior, bullying, violence and crime among students and improve the overall climate for learning. An alternative to punishment-focused discipline, the fundamental unifying hypothesis of restorative practices is disarmingly simple: that human beings are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them. This hypothesis maintains that the punitive and authoritarian to mode and the permissive and paternalistic for mode are not as effective as the restorative, participatory, engaging with mode in helping students take responsibility for their behavior. Introduction to Restorative Practices introduces parents, teachers, youth & family workers, police, administrators, and government officials to restorative practices, and provides techniques that can be used immediately.