RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

Educators across the nation recognize the importance of fostering positive, healthy school climates and helping students learn from their mistakes. Increasingly, they are partnering with parents, students, district officials, community organizations, and policymakers to move away from harmful and counter-productive zero-tolerance discipline policies and toward proven restorative approaches to addressing conflict in schools.
Restorative practices is an emerging social science that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities. Restorative justice also promotes a positive, orderly school environment. Students and all members of the school community can learn and practice self-discipline, empathy, and accountability.
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the class students will be able to:
• Foster understanding and develop empathy
• Actively involve and attend to the needs of all parties
• Encourage accountability and responsibility
• Reintegrate all parties into the community as a valuable, contributing member
• Seek to repair the harm
Teaching/Learning Strategies
Participants:
• Will get to know one another via “getting to know you” activities
• Will learn what is expected of them – (course requirements)
• Will use active learning strategies with instructor facilitation
• Engage in journal writing and reflection, news forums
• Perform in-depth case studies and problem-solving scenarios
• Learning will focus on student-centered rather than teacher-centered
• Will have the opportunity to visit outside resources

On-Line (3 Credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only