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Restorative Practices Initiative. Restoring Community & Teaching Peace: Igniting our Passion Jan L. Petersen, EdD , School Psychologist. We Get It Society’s Challenges Are GREAT!.
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Restorative Practices Initiative Restoring Community & Teaching Peace: Igniting our Passion Jan L. Petersen, EdD, School Psychologist
We Get ItSociety’s Challenges Are GREAT! “We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” Konstantin Josef Jireček Dec 13, 1881- Czech Historian, Diplomat and Slavist
Goals: Brief Overview RestorativePractices Definition, Framework, Theory Strategies you can use today Rationale
RP Definition: Social science that studies Social capital Social discipline
Important Distinction • Restorative Practices Proactive • Restorative Justice Reactive
Restorative Practices What IS the framework? • Positive School Climate • Safe and Civil Schools • Connected Relationships • Nonviolent Communication • Trauma Informed Schools • Repairing Harm • More Accountability for Students • More Tools for Admin & Staff
FAIR PROCESS Engagement: Everyone affected by a decision is given a chance to provide input. Explanation: After a leader has made a decision, that decision has been made clear to stakeholders. Expectation Clarity: Everyone involved understands the implications of the decision, the specific expectations, and the consequences. It’s ALL about RESPECT and OPEN communication!!
Compass of Shame: When positive affect has been interrupted ...
Escaping the Compass of Shame: Finding Your Center Expressing authentic emotion without finger pointing, blaming, or shaming Accepting ownership for one’s part in the dilemma 1.Maximize positive affect 2.Minimize negative affect 3.Minimize the inhibition of affect 4.Maximize the power to do all three
Restorative Questions(SIMPLIFIED) What happened? Who was harmed? How do we make things right?
Strategies & Practices Ongoing growth: Systematic school-wide infrastructure and empowered culture
WHYRestorative Practices • INCLUSIVE approach to ... • TOOLS to not only LISTEN, but to encourage everyone to have a VOICEand make valued contributions
Rethinking School Discipline Traditional Approach RP Approach Proactive and expected Teaches appropriate ways for needs to be met Opportunity to repair harm • Reactionary and unexpected • Often alienates the individual • No opportunity to redress wrong
WHY Restorative Practices • Ineffectiveness and disproportionality of suspensions and expulsions • Inner city children experience the greatest exposure to trauma • Effects of trauma • DO NO HARM!
Avoiding Escalation • Adults often misinterpret student actions as misbehaviors and administer punishment • Children experience further rejection, insecurity, stress • Children unravel, adults unravel – ESCALATION!!
The Function of the Brain and Emotion • Neocortex: Executive skills, rational thought • Limbic System: Home of the emotions.Learning is difficult when highly emotionally aroused! • Reptilian or Primitive Brain: Reacting without thinking, flight or fight. Learning is especially difficult in this mode!
Trauma Informed Responses • (A)– Attachments--caring relationships among adults and peers • (R)Regulating emotions and behaviors • (C)Competency--focusing on strengths to develop academic skills
Supported by Research • Reduction in suspensions and expulsions • Improved graduation rates • Fewer PBRs • More alternatives
S&CS and RP Do not depend on the hope of results. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything. - Thomas Merton
Considering the concepts shared, what possibilities resonate with you the most?
Concluding Thought As educators, we possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. We can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal… it is our responses that decide whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized. ― Haim Ginott
Joel HudsonPrincipal at West High School PRAGMATICS and APPLICATION
Why Do This Stuff? • S & CS provides all staff with tools to help PREVENT inappropriate behavior. • RP extends this by adding leverage and tools to help prevent AND repair. • The nature of our work is getting more complex and we need additional and BETTER tools in our tool box. • Getting good with tools takes time, effort, practice and persistence.
WhatDoes the Data Show? • PBR’s have decreased 60%. • Expulsions decreased 25% • Survey Data from Students and Parents show their main concern is profanity. • Enrollment has increased 26%. • We have lots more kiddos but our discipline stuff is going down!
Tips for Getting Started • Leadership has to commit to using tools. • Leaders have to display public support and use of tools. • Organic approach- find the willing and start there. • Persist • Use Data
Tools to Help Flow Chart Incident Statement Form Restorative Questions ID Cases that “fit” Tier 3 Success is a great tool and motivator!