Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools - Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices

What are they?

In today’s schools, care for the person/s harmed through misbehavior is rarely addressed in intentional ways. Misbehavior is punished leaving the student to feel disconnected from school and at times also feeling like a victim. When misbehavior is not addressed in a restorative manner the focus of academic learning is broke. Working through Restorative Practices, misbehaving students deal with the harm they have caused to individuals and to the school community. An understanding of the harm done and a restoring of safety or relationships starts to happen and the emphasis of learning in a caring environment can resume. The goals of Restorative Practices apply not only to those involved in or affected by misbehavior, but to the larger educational community as well.

Key Goals of Restorative Practice:

To understand the harm and develop empathy for both the harmed and the harmer
To listen and respond to the needs of the person harmed and the person who harmed
To encourage accountability and responsibility through personal reflection within a collaborative planning process
To reintegrate the harmer (and, if necessary, the harmed) into the community as valuable, contributing members
To create caring climates to support healthy communities
To change the system and why it contributes to the harm

Watch how Restorative Circles are impacting this Oakland high school community.