RESTORATIVE
ACTION
IN THE
SCHOOLS
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RESTORATIVE ACTION
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN BRITISH COLOMBIA HAS ALSO SPREAD INTO THE BC SCHOOL SYSTEM UNDER THE NAME OF RESTORATIVE ACTION (RA).
The principles of Restorative Justice encourage us to look at wrongdoing—even if it’s not criminal wrongdoing—as harm done to relationships and people. In a school setting, wrongdoing is often viewed as breaking the rules, with some kind of punishment as a consequence. Restorative Justice, however, challenges us to look beyond traditional, punitive responses to a deeper level of analysis and problem solving.
Who has been harmed?
How have relationships been affected?
How has this act impacted the school community?
What harm has been done?
What is needed to repair this harm and to heal this broken relationship?
What is needed so the affected parties can move on from this in a positive way, with no lingering bad feelings?
What steps need to be taken to prevent future harm?
The principles of
Restorative Justice
encourage us to look at wrongdoing
as harm done to
relationships and people.
As part of a contract with the Abbotsford School District, facilitators take restorative principles to the school system. Rather than focus on controlling students’ behaviour Restorative Action applies restorative principles and values to a process of conflict resolution in classrooms and school communities both as a framework for fostering safer schools and for enhancing positive school culture. Restorative Action is twofold in focus: prevention and intervention, and is facilitated in all eight public middle schools in Abbotsford.