Restorative Justice
Formal and Responsive Restorative Practice
Restorative Justice lives far to the right of the continuum. This is a formal means to responding to conflict that includes things like scripted harm circles, formal conferences, pre-made questioning, and the determination of what outcomes and consequences are appropriate after harm has been done.
Formal conferences can be used in conjunction with, or instead, of suspension.
Why do we need restorative justice?
This quick video explains the overarching philosophy behind it.
How does this work in schools?
This TED talk explains how our disciplinary interventions need to change.
"A student suspended, even once, is TWICE as likely to drop out."
Shifting the focus to relationships, rather than rules.
What are the things that we want our students to leave our schools having learned? What constitutes a consequence?
Behavior is Communication, so is conflict.
What do the ways that we respond to students' choices convey about who we are as a school system?
What does this look like?
There are many ways to use formal conferences or formal restorative harm circles.
This could certainly be in a circle, or in the format of a Superintendent's Hearing, or more of a trial setting.
This would be determine by the people involved within the harm of the situation.
Restorative (Harm) Circle vs. Formal Conference
Sometimes, a restorative circle will repair harm done, and other times a more formal and scripted conference will be necessary...
These include things like pre-conferences, parent and community involvement, scripts, and contracts.
It's very important that we don't use the terms Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice interchangeably, as Restorative Justice has a very specific purpose and is used much less often than our regular Restorative Practices.
Resources for Restorative Justice are widespread and accessible. Here are some to use with students:
The 57 Bus
A nonfiction, narrative piece that includes a real life example of how Restorative Justice repaired some serious harm for two teenagers.
Touching Spirit Bear
A fiction piece that includes Restorative Justice as it was originally done, by the Native Americans.
