Restorative Justice: Like Most Education Measure, It Needs Resources to Succeed
There's this phrase - "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good" - that I see used quite often when speaking of public education initiatives especially in defense of charter schools. And then, districts, states, the feds plunge on into initiatives, apparently hoping it will all turn out well (see Race to the Top, remember that one?).
This issue, restorative justice, is a very good example. "We've got to do something" - because student discipline is so skewed towards two groups of students - Special Education students and Black students is the cry from many in leadership. But the work, the actual work, falls to those in the trenches.
There is an excellent, first-person narrative on this topic from Education Week by a veteran teacher, Allison Fried, on this subject.
If You Won't Do Restorative Justice Right, Don't Do It
My former school tried its best at restorative justice. But we needed more than good intentions
Last fall, I was physically attacked by a student while helping another teacher in their classroom. This was my fourth documented assault at my middle school, and I gave my two-month notice shortly thereafter. Teachers cannot teach, and students cannot learn, in an unsafe school.The Research
Limiting suspension-worthy offenses and passing around a stuffed animal are no substitute for a well-run restorative justice program. Our toolbox was empty. I never had a restorative conversation with the student who physically attacked me.
A 2018 study by Matthew Steinberg of the University of Pennsylvania and Johanna Lacoe at Mathematica Policy Research highlights several crucial CONTINUE READING: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Restorative Justice: Like Most Education Measure, It Needs Resources to Succeed
