Restorative Approaches to Honoring Human Dignity and Transforming Urban Schools

Abstract

Drawing on restorative processes research and research on social justice, this chapter is organized in the following manner: First, the authors provide a brief history of the administration of justice. Second, the authors discuss the global rise of restorative justice in the education context. In order for a program to be completely restorative, it must include several educational components as part of restorative processes. Towards this end, the chapter then situates these components in the context of social justice and explores how school systems use them – with specific emphasis on victim-offender conferencing and human dignity. Next, the authors share examples of international initiatives pertaining to restorative practices. Conclusions summarize the significance of restorative practices in school settings in order to prevent violence, reduce rates of expulsions and suspensions, and create a safe and secure teaching and learning environment for all.