{"id":473,"date":"2023-01-25T09:23:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T09:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/?p=473"},"modified":"2022-09-04T02:52:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-04T02:52:47","slug":"what-teachers-need-to-know-about-restorative-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/25\/what-teachers-need-to-know-about-restorative-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"What Teachers Need To Know About Restorative Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most schools use punitive discipline systems: Break a rule and you\u2019re punished with detention or even suspension. But these systems can interrupt a student\u2019s education and lead to further bad behavior. They also don\u2019t provide kids with any skills for working through issues with others. That\u2019s why some schools are trying restorative justice instead. Here\u2019s what you need to know about it.<\/p>\n

What is restorative justice in schools?<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Restorative justice is a theory of justice that focuses on mediation and agreement rather than punishment. Offenders must accept responsibility for harm and make restitution with victims. Indigenous people like the Maori have used this system successfully in their communities for generations.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

In recent years, various countries have tried the practice in an effort to make their criminal justice systems more effective. This led to the exploration of restorative justice in schools, especially those with high rates of student misbehavior.<\/p>\n

In California, Oakland Unified School District began using the program at a failing middle school in 2006. Within three years, the pilot school saw an 87 percent decrease in suspensions, with a corresponding decrease in violence. The practice was so successful that by 2011 OUSD made restorative justice the new model for handling disciplinary problems.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

What are the basic practices of restorative justice?<\/h2>\n

\"Restorative<\/p>\n

Source: OUSD Restorative Justice Implementation Guide (PDF)<\/p>\n

\u201cRestorative justice is a fundamental change in how you respond to rule violations and misbehavior,\u201d said Ron Claassen, an expert and pioneer in the field. \u201cThe typical response to bad behavior is punishment. Restorative justice resolves disciplinary problems in a cooperative and constructive way.\u201d Schools like OUSD use a three-tiered approach focused on prevention, intervention, and reintegration.<\/p>\n

Restorative Justice Tier I: Prevention<\/h3>\n

The first tier is all about community-building as a preventive measure. Teachers or peer facilitators lead students in circles of sharing, where kids open up about their fears and goals. \u201cThe circles are based on indigenous practices that value inclusiveness, respect, dealing with things as a community, and supporting healing,\u201d explains David Yurem, OUSD\u2019s first program manager. \u201cKids really resonate with this process. I\u2019ve seen kids share things that I was extremely surprised by, like eighth grade boys talking about what scares them. To seem weak in their world is a life-threatening thing, so I was really impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students play an integral part in creating the climate of Tier I. The teacher and students start the year by creating a classroom respect agreement. Everyone agrees to be held accountable. The contract is an extremely effective way of maintaining harmony in the classroom. \u201cTeachers can\u2019t say, \u2018Here are my rules, sign them,\u2019\u201d says Yurem. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t work. There\u2019s no ownership for the students in that. If the children help create the rules, then they have ownership. And if they break them, they can be referred back to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Restorative Justice Tier II: Intervention<\/h3>\n

Tier II comes into play when students break rules and someone has caused harm to someone else. In traditional justice, this is when punishments are meted out. Restorative justice instead turns to mediation. The offending student is given the chance to come forward and make things right. They meet with the affected parties and a mediator, usually a teacher.<\/p>\n

The mediator asks nonjudgmental, restorative questions like What happened? How did it happen? <\/em>or What can we do to make it right?<\/em> Through their discussions, everyone learns about what happened, why it happened, and how the damage can be fixed. \u201cThey\u2019ll talk about what can be done to repair the harm,\u201d Yurem shares. \u201cThey\u2019ll come up with a plan and fulfill that plan. And hopefully, the relationship will be stronger. It\u2019s really all about relationships\u2014building and repairing them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Restorative Justice Tier III: Reintegration<\/h3>\n

Tier III aims to help kids who\u2019ve been out of school due to suspension, expulsion, incarceration, or truancy. Returning to school life can be a real challenge in those cases. Many students in traditional environments quickly re-offend or drop out again. Restorative justice practices seek to reduce this recidivism by providing a \u201cwraparound\u201d supportive environment from the start. They acknowledge the student\u2019s challenges while promoting accountability and achievement.<\/p>\n

Does restorative justice really work in a classroom?<\/h2>\n

\"7<\/p>\n

So what does all this look like in a real-world school or classroom? Roxanne Claassen was one of the first teachers to try restorative justice in school. She\u2019d seen the success her husband, Ron, had using it in his work with the juvenile criminal justice system. Roxanne decided to try the model in her Fresno, California, elementary school classroom.<\/p>\n

Claassen worked with students to write a respect agreement. Together they determined how they would treat each other to create a positive classroom community. If a student violated the agreement, Roxanne reminded them of it and asked if they wanted to honor it. Ninety percent of the time, the student did, and the problem ended there.<\/p>\n

If the problem continued, Claassen worked together with the student to try to find a solution. \u201cYou say, \u2018Here\u2019s the problem. What can we do to fix it?\u2019 The message you\u2019re sending the child is, \u2018I\u2019m not against you, I\u2019m for you. I want you to succeed,\u2019\u201d emphasizes Claassen.<\/p>\n

A Real-Life Example<\/h3>\n

In one instance, two of Claassen\u2019s eighth grade boys broke a paper towel dispenser in the bathroom. At first, no one admitted responsibility. Claassen told them, \u201cWe have a restorative discipline system here, so we accept responsibility and can make things as right as possible. But we can\u2019t do that unless someone accepts responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boys admitted they\u2019d done it. Claassen called a meeting with all the people involved or affected by the incident\u2014the boys, their parents, and the custodian. They talked about what happened, and everyone had a voice. \u201cIn that process, the custodian had a chance to let the students know how difficult it is to replace a dispenser,\u201d said Claassen. \u201cIt gave the students incredible knowledge of a real-world situation in a way a suspension never could, and relationships improved instead of being damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the students couldn\u2019t afford to pay to replace the dispenser. So the student himself suggested that he could work with the custodian to pay his debt. He enjoyed it so much that he continued to help the custodian long after he\u2019d finished his restitution!<\/p>\n

Does restorative justice address racial justice?<\/h2>\n

OUSD\u2019s Restorative and Racial Justice homepage is clear: \u201cThere is no restorative justice without racial justice.\u201d To begin with, this means honoring the indigenous roots of the practice. It also means encouraging program participants to consider how racial privilege and prejudice affect them all.<\/p>\n

The Center for Court Innovation runs restorative justice programs in five underserved Brooklyn schools. They\u2019re trying to address the subject through a racial justice lens. \u201cRestorative justice is about accountability and repairing harm,\u201d they note. \u201cWhat about accountability for the system that has produced these underserved and essentially segregated schools and then punishes the kids for reacting to that neglect?\u201d<\/p>\n

In other words, schools must address racist policies and practices along with restorative justice efforts. They can use the system to help historically privileged students make amends to the victims of long-standing prejudices. This is an extremely tricky topic and a fairly new one. Try these resources to learn more:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • OUSD Restorative and Racial Justice: Podcasts<\/li>\n
  • Coloring Restorative Justice, edited by Edward C Valandra and Wa\u014bbli Wap\u021f\u00e1ha Hok\u0161\u00edla (Book)<\/li>\n
  • The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice, by Fania E. Davis (Book)<\/li>\n
  • Bringing a Racial Justice Consciousness to the Restorative Justice Movement: A Call to White Practitioners (PDF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    What are the potential benefits of restorative justice?<\/h2>\n

    \"Restorative<\/p>\n

    Source: Restorative Practices: Fostering Healthy Relationships & Promoting Positive Discipline in Schools (PDF)<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re thinking that this sounds like a lot of work, especially up front, you\u2019re right. But many teachers and administrators who use these programs say the benefits far outweigh the effort.<\/p>\n

    Less stress<\/h3>\n

    Teachers who use restorative discipline practices find that behavior in their classrooms improves dramatically. They have better relationships with their students and, therefore, less stress from unresolved conflicts. \u201cRestorative discipline improved my relationships with students,\u201d states Claassen. \u201cInstead of making the relationships more difficult, it brought us together and improved our interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n

    More time for teaching<\/h3>\n

    \u201cYou spend less time \u2026 on discipline and have more time available for teaching and interaction when you use restorative practices,\u201d Claassen observes. \u201cStudents aren\u2019t afraid to admit when they\u2019ve done something wrong as they are in a punitive environment, so you save a lot of time investigating who did what.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Ron adds, \u201cWhen you have a punitive system, the automatic response is to deny responsibility because you know you\u2019ll get punished. With a restorative justice system, the incentive is to admit what you did because you know there\u2019s going to be a restorative process to make things right.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Better outcomes for students<\/h3>\n

    Statistics show that using restorative practices keeps kids in school. Punitive systems often remove students from the classroom, even for minor offenses. With restorative justice, everyone works together to keep kids in the classroom where they can learn. Children who are expelled often end up in what education reform activists call the school-to-prison pipeline. Restorative justice tries to stop this cycle and keep kids on track with their education.<\/p>\n

    Addressing root causes<\/h3>\n

    Restorative justice encourages kids to explore the reasons and effects of their offenses. \u201cRestorative justice addresses the harm caused by the offense and the harm revealed by the offense,\u201d says Yurem. \u201cWhen you get these kids talking, you learn about the traumas they have faced. Maybe their brother was killed, or their father was sent to prison. If you can get to the root of the cause of the offense, you\u2019re truly stopping the cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Real-life skills<\/h3>\n

    Even if there isn\u2019t a major underlying problem, talking about an issue is an important skill for students to learn. \u201cThe restorative process teaches students how to resolve conflict in a positive way,\u201d Ron Claassen says. \u201cIt helps them develop rational skills\u2014to understand a situation, follow a process, and resolve it. These are life skills they can take with them into the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

    What are the drawbacks of restorative justice in schools?<\/h2>\n

    For restorative justice to work, it requires engagement from all involved parties. If the offender isn\u2019t willing to take responsibility and make meaningful restitution, the program can\u2019t help. Schools using this system find they still need traditional disciplinary actions available for circumstances like this.<\/p>\n

    More than this, restorative justice in schools requires a pledge of time and money from the district and its administration. There are multiple examples of schools that set aside funds to implement the program but leave the money unspent. Other districts encourage teachers to use restorative discipline but provide little or no training or support. And busy teachers are understandably leery of trying yet another program that\u2019s supposed to solve all their problems.<\/p>\n

    Schools that dedicate themselves fully to the system, like Oakland USD and Chicago Public Schools, see real change and benefits. But the time, money, and enthusiasm required to make it work can be prohibitive for others.<\/p>\n

    How can schools implement restorative justice?<\/h2>\n

    \"Restorative<\/p>\n

    Source: OUSD Restorative Justice Implementation Guide<\/p>\n

    On their own, teachers can use some aspects of the restorative justice system in their classrooms. \u201cRespect agreements\u201d are a good place to start, giving students a stake in making the classroom successful. Then, spend some time learning about sharing circles and mediation (see resources below).<\/p>\n

    School-wide or system-wide restorative justice takes the full commitment of everyone involved in the education process\u2014teachers, administrators, students, and parents. Schools can spend months or even years fully rolling out a program. It\u2019s not the right option for everyone, as it requires an extensive dedication of time and money. Teachers interested in bringing a program to their schools should work with their administrators to explore the process. Oakland USD offers a particularly useful Restorative Justice Whole School Implementation Guide that provides a comprehensive look at what it takes to make it work.<\/p>\n

    Get additional restorative justice resources.<\/h2>\n

    Institutes and organizations<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Oakland Unified School District Restorative Justice Program<\/li>\n
    • Fresno Pacific University Peacemaking and Conflict Studies<\/li>\n
    • International Institute for Restorative Practices<\/li>\n
    • Restorative Justice Exchange<\/li>\n
    • Restorative Justice in U.S. Schools: An Updated Research Review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Books<\/h3>\n

      (Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Building a Trauma-Informed Restorative School (Brummer\/Thorsborne, 2020)<\/li>\n
      • Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways To Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility Using Restorative Justice (Maynard\/Weinstein, 2019)<\/li>\n
      • The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice\u00a0(Davis, 2019)<\/li>\n
      • Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management\u00a0(Smith\/Fisher\/Frey, 2015)<\/li>\n
      • Implementing Restorative Practices in Schools: A Practical Guide to Transforming School Communities (Thorsborne\/Blood, 2013)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Does your school use restorative justice, or are you looking to start? Come join the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook and chat with other teachers about your experiences.<\/h3>\n

        Plus, check out our guide What Is Classroom Management?<\/h3>\n

        ,\"What<\/p>\n

        \n
        <\/div>\n
        \n
        \n
        \n
        \n

        Most schools use punitive discipline systems: Break a rule and you\u2019re punished with detention or even suspension. But these systems can interrupt a student\u2019s education and lead to further bad behavior. They also don\u2019t provide kids with any skills for working through issues with others. That\u2019s why some schools are trying restorative justice instead. Here\u2019s what you need to know about it.<\/p>\n

        What is restorative justice in schools?<\/h2>\n

        \"A<\/p>\n

        Restorative justice is a theory of justice that focuses on mediation and agreement rather than punishment. Offenders must accept responsibility for harm and make restitution with victims. Indigenous people like the Maori have used this system successfully in their communities for generations.<\/p>\n

        <\/div>\n

        In recent years, various countries have tried the practice in an effort to make their criminal justice systems more effective. This led to the exploration of restorative justice in schools, especially those with high rates of student misbehavior.<\/p>\n

        In California, Oakland Unified School District began using the program at a failing middle school in 2006. Within three years, the pilot school saw an 87 percent decrease in suspensions, with a corresponding decrease in violence. The practice was so successful that by 2011 OUSD made restorative justice the new model for handling disciplinary problems.<\/p>\n

        <\/div>\n

        What are the basic practices of restorative justice?<\/h2>\n

        \"Restorative<\/p>\n

        Source: OUSD Restorative Justice Implementation Guide (PDF)<\/p>\n

        \u201cRestorative justice is a fundamental change in how you respond to rule violations and misbehavior,\u201d said Ron Claassen, an expert and pioneer in the field. \u201cThe typical response to bad behavior is punishment. Restorative justice resolves disciplinary problems in a cooperative and constructive way.\u201d Schools like OUSD use a three-tiered approach focused on prevention, intervention, and reintegration.<\/p>\n

        Restorative Justice Tier I: Prevention<\/h3>\n

        The first tier is all about community-building as a preventive measure. Teachers or peer facilitators lead students in circles of sharing, where kids open up about their fears and goals. \u201cThe circles are based on indigenous practices that value inclusiveness, respect, dealing with things as a community, and supporting healing,\u201d explains David Yurem, OUSD\u2019s first program manager. \u201cKids really resonate with this process. I\u2019ve seen kids share things that I was extremely surprised by, like eighth grade boys talking about what scares them. To seem weak in their world is a life-threatening thing, so I was really impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

        Students play an integral part in creating the climate of Tier I. The teacher and students start the year by creating a classroom respect agreement. Everyone agrees to be held accountable. The contract is an extremely effective way of maintaining harmony in the classroom. \u201cTeachers can\u2019t say, \u2018Here are my rules, sign them,\u2019\u201d says Yurem. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t work. There\u2019s no ownership for the students in that. If the children help create the rules, then they have ownership. And if they break them, they can be referred back to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

        Restorative Justice Tier II: Intervention<\/h3>\n

        Tier II comes into play when students break rules and someone has caused harm to someone else. In traditional justice, this is when punishments are meted out. Restorative justice instead turns to mediation. The offending student is given the chance to come forward and make things right. They meet with the affected parties and a mediator, usually a teacher.<\/p>\n

        The mediator asks nonjudgmental, restorative questions like What happened? How did it happen? <\/em>or What can we do to make it right?<\/em> Through their discussions, everyone learns about what happened, why it happened, and how the damage can be fixed. \u201cThey\u2019ll talk about what can be done to repair the harm,\u201d Yurem shares. \u201cThey\u2019ll come up with a plan and fulfill that plan. And hopefully, the relationship will be stronger. It\u2019s really all about relationships\u2014building and repairing them.\u201d<\/p>\n

        Restorative Justice Tier III: Reintegration<\/h3>\n

        Tier III aims to help kids who\u2019ve been out of school due to suspension, expulsion, incarceration, or truancy. Returning to school life can be a real challenge in those cases. Many students in traditional environments quickly re-offend or drop out again. Restorative justice practices seek to reduce this recidivism by providing a \u201cwraparound\u201d supportive environment from the start. They acknowledge the student\u2019s challenges while promoting accountability and achievement.<\/p>\n

        Does restorative justice really work in a classroom?<\/h2>\n

        \"7<\/p>\n

        So what does all this look like in a real-world school or classroom? Roxanne Claassen was one of the first teachers to try restorative justice in school. She\u2019d seen the success her husband, Ron, had using it in his work with the juvenile criminal justice system. Roxanne decided to try the model in her Fresno, California, elementary school classroom.<\/p>\n

        Claassen worked with students to write a respect agreement. Together they determined how they would treat each other to create a positive classroom community. If a student violated the agreement, Roxanne reminded them of it and asked if they wanted to honor it. Ninety percent of the time, the student did, and the problem ended there.<\/p>\n

        If the problem continued, Claassen worked together with the student to try to find a solution. \u201cYou say, \u2018Here\u2019s the problem. What can we do to fix it?\u2019 The message you\u2019re sending the child is, \u2018I\u2019m not against you, I\u2019m for you. I want you to succeed,\u2019\u201d emphasizes Claassen.<\/p>\n

        A Real-Life Example<\/h3>\n

        In one instance, two of Claassen\u2019s eighth grade boys broke a paper towel dispenser in the bathroom. At first, no one admitted responsibility. Claassen told them, \u201cWe have a restorative discipline system here, so we accept responsibility and can make things as right as possible. But we can\u2019t do that unless someone accepts responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

        The boys admitted they\u2019d done it. Claassen called a meeting with all the people involved or affected by the incident\u2014the boys, their parents, and the custodian. They talked about what happened, and everyone had a voice. \u201cIn that process, the custodian had a chance to let the students know how difficult it is to replace a dispenser,\u201d said Claassen. \u201cIt gave the students incredible knowledge of a real-world situation in a way a suspension never could, and relationships improved instead of being damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n

        One of the students couldn\u2019t afford to pay to replace the dispenser. So the student himself suggested that he could work with the custodian to pay his debt. He enjoyed it so much that he continued to help the custodian long after he\u2019d finished his restitution!<\/p>\n

        Does restorative justice address racial justice?<\/h2>\n

        OUSD\u2019s Restorative and Racial Justice homepage is clear: \u201cThere is no restorative justice without racial justice.\u201d To begin with, this means honoring the indigenous roots of the practice. It also means encouraging program participants to consider how racial privilege and prejudice affect them all.<\/p>\n

        The Center for Court Innovation runs restorative justice programs in five underserved Brooklyn schools. They\u2019re trying to address the subject through a racial justice lens. \u201cRestorative justice is about accountability and repairing harm,\u201d they note. \u201cWhat about accountability for the system that has produced these underserved and essentially segregated schools and then punishes the kids for reacting to that neglect?\u201d<\/p>\n

        In other words, schools must address racist policies and practices along with restorative justice efforts. They can use the system to help historically privileged students make amends to the victims of long-standing prejudices. This is an extremely tricky topic and a fairly new one. Try these resources to learn more:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • OUSD Restorative and Racial Justice: Podcasts<\/li>\n
        • Coloring Restorative Justice, edited by Edward C Valandra and Wa\u014bbli Wap\u021f\u00e1ha Hok\u0161\u00edla (Book)<\/li>\n
        • The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice, by Fania E. Davis (Book)<\/li>\n
        • Bringing a Racial Justice Consciousness to the Restorative Justice Movement: A Call to White Practitioners (PDF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          What are the potential benefits of restorative justice?<\/h2>\n

          \"Restorative<\/p>\n

          Source: Restorative Practices: Fostering Healthy Relationships & Promoting Positive Discipline in Schools (PDF)<\/p>\n

          If you\u2019re thinking that this sounds like a lot of work, especially up front, you\u2019re right. But many teachers and administrators who use these programs say the benefits far outweigh the effort.<\/p>\n

          Less stress<\/h3>\n

          Teachers who use restorative discipline practices find that behavior in their classrooms improves dramatically. They have better relationships with their students and, therefore, less stress from unresolved conflicts. \u201cRestorative discipline improved my relationships with students,\u201d states Claassen. \u201cInstead of making the relationships more difficult, it brought us together and improved our interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n

          More time for teaching<\/h3>\n

          \u201cYou spend less time \u2026 on discipline and have more time available for teaching and interaction when you use restorative practices,\u201d Claassen observes. \u201cStudents aren\u2019t afraid to admit when they\u2019ve done something wrong as they are in a punitive environment, so you save a lot of time investigating who did what.\u201d<\/p>\n

          Ron adds, \u201cWhen you have a punitive system, the automatic response is to deny responsibility because you know you\u2019ll get punished. With a restorative justice system, the incentive is to admit what you did because you know there\u2019s going to be a restorative process to make things right.\u201d<\/p>\n

          Better outcomes for students<\/h3>\n

          Statistics show that using restorative practices keeps kids in school. Punitive systems often remove students from the classroom, even for minor offenses. With restorative justice, everyone works together to keep kids in the classroom where they can learn. Children who are expelled often end up in what education reform activists call the school-to-prison pipeline. Restorative justice tries to stop this cycle and keep kids on track with their education.<\/p>\n

          Addressing root causes<\/h3>\n

          Restorative justice encourages kids to explore the reasons and effects of their offenses. \u201cRestorative justice addresses the harm caused by the offense and the harm revealed by the offense,\u201d says Yurem. \u201cWhen you get these kids talking, you learn about the traumas they have faced. Maybe their brother was killed, or their father was sent to prison. If you can get to the root of the cause of the offense, you\u2019re truly stopping the cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

          Real-life skills<\/h3>\n

          Even if there isn\u2019t a major underlying problem, talking about an issue is an important skill for students to learn. \u201cThe restorative process teaches students how to resolve conflict in a positive way,\u201d Ron Claassen says. \u201cIt helps them develop rational skills\u2014to understand a situation, follow a process, and resolve it. These are life skills they can take with them into the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

          What are the drawbacks of restorative justice in schools?<\/h2>\n

          For restorative justice to work, it requires engagement from all involved parties. If the offender isn\u2019t willing to take responsibility and make meaningful restitution, the program can\u2019t help. Schools using this system find they still need traditional disciplinary actions available for circumstances like this.<\/p>\n

          More than this, restorative justice in schools requires a pledge of time and money from the district and its administration. There are multiple examples of schools that set aside funds to implement the program but leave the money unspent. Other districts encourage teachers to use restorative discipline but provide little or no training or support. And busy teachers are understandably leery of trying yet another program that\u2019s supposed to solve all their problems.<\/p>\n

          Schools that dedicate themselves fully to the system, like Oakland USD and Chicago Public Schools, see real change and benefits. But the time, money, and enthusiasm required to make it work can be prohibitive for others.<\/p>\n

          How can schools implement restorative justice?<\/h2>\n

          \"Restorative<\/p>\n

          Source: OUSD Restorative Justice Implementation Guide<\/p>\n

          On their own, teachers can use some aspects of the restorative justice system in their classrooms. \u201cRespect agreements\u201d are a good place to start, giving students a stake in making the classroom successful. Then, spend some time learning about sharing circles and mediation (see resources below).<\/p>\n

          School-wide or system-wide restorative justice takes the full commitment of everyone involved in the education process\u2014teachers, administrators, students, and parents. Schools can spend months or even years fully rolling out a program. It\u2019s not the right option for everyone, as it requires an extensive dedication of time and money. Teachers interested in bringing a program to their schools should work with their administrators to explore the process. Oakland USD offers a particularly useful Restorative Justice Whole School Implementation Guide that provides a comprehensive look at what it takes to make it work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Most schools use punitive discipline systems: Break a rule and you\u2019re punished with detention or even suspension. But these systems can interrupt a student\u2019s education and lead to further bad behavior. They also don\u2019t provide kids with any skills for working through issues with others. That\u2019s why some schools are trying restorative justice instead. Here\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-classroom"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=473"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":664,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473\/revisions\/664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineduatease.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}