Author:
Prutzman Priscilla,Roberts Elizabeth,Fishler Tara,Jones Tricia
Abstract
Purpose
Restorative practice programs in the USA and Western elementary and secondary schools have been the focus of intensive, large scale field research that reports positive impacts on school climate, pro-social student behavior and aggressive behavior. This paper aims to contribute to a gap in the research by reporting a case study of transformation of an urban middle school in a multi-year implementation of restorative practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports how Creative Response to Conflict (CRC) supported the transformation of Middle School 217, in Queens, NY, from a school with one of the highest suspension rates in New York City to a model restorative school. CRC’s model, which incorporates the themes of cooperation, communication, affirmation, conflict resolution, mediation, problem-solving, bias awareness, bullying prevention and intervention, social-emotional learning and restorative practices, helped shift the perspective and practice of the entire school community from punitive to restorative.
Findings
Implementation of a full school advisory program using restorative circles for all meetings and classes and development of a 100% respect program committing all school community members to dignified and respectful treatment aided the transformation. Key to MS 217’s success was the collaboration of multiple non-profit organizations for provision of peer mediation training, after-school follow-up work, staff coaching and preventative cyberbullying training through the Social Media-tors! Program.
Research limitations/implications
Challenges to the restorative practices implementation are reviewed with attention to the implementation online during COVID-19.
Originality/value
Next steps in the program post-COVID are articulated as a best practice model for other schools interested in adopting MS 217’s commitment, creativity and community-building to become a model restorative school.
Subject
Law,Sociology and Political Science,Social Psychology,Health (social science)
Reference17 articles.
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2. A cluster-randomized trial of restorative practices: an illustration to spur high-quality research and evaluation;Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation: The Official Journal of the Association for Educational and Psychological Consultants,2016
3. Augustine, C.H., Engberg, J., Grimm, G.E., Lee, E., Wang, E.L., Christianson, K. and Joseph, A.A. (2018), “Can restorative practices improve school climate and curb suspensions?”, An evaluation of the impact of restorative practices in a mid-sized urban school district. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, available at: www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2840.html (accessed 3 December 2019).
4. Justice for all? Suspension bans and restorative justice programs in the Los Angeles unified school district;Peabody Journal of Education,2018
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