Restorative justice is a form of conflict resolution that is being increasingly implemented in schools across the world. It is a transformative approach to discipline that seeks to restore relationships that have been harmed by behavior that is deemed unacceptable. This approach is preferred to punitive measures such as suspension, expulsion or detention, as it seeks to address the root cause of the problem rather than punishing the behavior. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of restorative justice in schools.
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative justice is a process that encourages communication and interaction between those who have been harmed and those who have caused harm. It is a way of dealing with conflicts that is based on understanding the harm that has been caused and finding ways to repair the damage that has been done.
In the context of schools, restorative justice is a philosophy that focuses on building and repairing relationships between students, teachers and the school community as a whole. It provides a way of dealing with conflicts that is based on principles of healing and repairing, rather than punishing or excluding students.
The restorative justice process typically involves a meeting between the victim and the offender, facilitated by a trained mediator. The meeting provides an opportunity for both parties to share their experiences and feelings about the incident, with the aim of finding a way to repair the harm that has been caused.
Benefits of Restorative Justice in Schools
Restorative justice promotes a positive school climate
Restorative justice provides an alternative to punitive discipline measures that can create a negative school climate. In a punitive environment, students are often afraid to speak up or report incidents for fear of being punished. Restorative justice, on the other hand, creates a culture of trust and respect, where students feel empowered to speak up and share their experiences.
Restorative justice reduces suspensions and expulsions
Traditional disciplinary measures such as suspension and expulsion have been shown to be ineffective at addressing the underlying causes of problematic behavior. They also tend to disproportionately impact students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Restorative justice provides an alternative that seeks to address the root cause of the problem, thereby reducing the need for suspension and expulsion.
Restorative justice helps to improve student behavior
Restorative justice has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of problematic behavior in schools. When students are given the opportunity to understand the impact of their behavior on others and work to repair the harm that has been caused, they are more likely to make positive changes.
Restorative justice promotes empathy and compassion
Restorative justice promotes empathy and compassion by encouraging students to see the perspective of others. This creates a culture of respect and understanding, where students are more likely to work together to create positive solutions to conflicts.
Restorative justice empowers students
Restorative justice empowers students by giving them a voice in the process of resolving conflicts. By being involved in the process of repairing harm, students are able to take responsibility for their actions and work towards a positive outcome.
Restorative justice promotes a sense of community
Restorative justice promotes a sense of community by bringing together students, teachers, and other members of the school community to work together to resolve conflicts. This creates a culture of trust and cooperation that is beneficial to the entire school community.
