Restorative Practices

What are Restorative Practices?

Restorative Practices is a way of working with students, grounded in philosophy that is based on a set of principles for responding to harm and wrongdoing that is victim-centered and focuses on offender accountability to those who were harmed, and to the laws or rules that were broken. The principles of Restorative Practices are now being used in schools with some positive results. Within this restorative philosophy, wrongdoing is viewed as a violation of a person or community as well as a violation of the discipline code. 

Principles of Restorative Practices in Education

Building Healthy Communities.  Relationships are at the core of learning; these relationships are grounded in “interconnection and interdependence” between and among all members of the community where all are considered worth of respect and dignity.  Social and emotional learning, cultural awareness, and effective communication promote healthy relationships.

Restoring Relationships. Conflict is inevitable in relationships; when relationships are broken because of conflict or challenging behaviors, focus is on restoring relationships. Punishment for breaking rules is not the end goal; restoration is.  This effort opens opportunities for each person to once again become a contributing member of the learning community.

Meeting Needs. There are three pillars of human need: Autonomy (sense of control), Order (things are as they should be), and Relatedness (belonging); when these needs aren’t met, we persist in finding ways to meet them.  Students and teachers are more apt to live into their full potential when their needs are met.

Viewing Conflict as a Learning Opportunity. Restorative Practices is about addressing problems with people, not for them or to them. When we fix problems for others, we co-opt their opportunity to grow.  Think: Vygotsky, Piaget, and Dewey. Conflict is viewed as transformative, providing opportunities to build self-regulation, social and emotional competence, and problem-solving skills.

Providing Accountability and Support. Restorative Practices moves beyond students taking responsibility for personal actions to building accountability to those with whom they have relationships. Restorative Practices is NOT about lenience or looking the other way. Restorative Practices recognizes boundaries and expectations of accountability to others - within a supportive community.

Making Things Right. When harm occurs, those causing the harm work to repair the harm, to the extent possible, and restore relationships, allowing the person to transcend the script of negative identity and provides healing/closure for the harmed. It restores sense of self for both one harmed and once causing the harm.  This might look like restitution, but not necessarily.

Addressing Issues of Justice/Injustice. It is not restorative practices if we aren’t focusing on justice, as defined by those impacted most by our actions.  Thus, goals include responding to issues of oppression, marginalization, the ‘isms.’ And other forms of injustice. Respect, honor, and compassion for ALL members of the community are enacted through relationships, which must be built, or re-built and sustained.

RESTORATIVE QUESTIONS I

TO RESPOND TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS

●   What Happened?

●   What were you thinking of at the time?

●   What have you thought about since?

●   Who has been affected by what you have done? In what way?

●   What do you think you need to do to make things right?

RESTORATIVE QUESTIONS II

TO HELP THOSE HARMED BY OTHERS ACTIONS

●   What did you think when you realized what had happened?

●   What impact has this incident had on you and others?

●   What has been the hardest thing for you?

●   What do you think needs to happen to make things right?