Reply to Any experience with a restorative circle in the classroom?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The same kids will always participate and a sizable number of kids will never, ever say anything. That sucks. [/quote]

This hasn't been my experience as a 5th grade teacher in the 5ish years my school has been doing them as a regular part of the daily/weekly schedule. The first few times, most kids participate. After a few months and we've settled in, usually all participate in some form. I've had a few kids that never did, but there were also some other issues they were dealing with, and they comfortable enough to join the circle and say "pass" when it was their turn.

They can be kind of hokey, but I really like them, and it really does help build a classroom community that sticks together and looks out for each other.[/quote]

Okay how about when there's a kid bullying another kid. Do you think the bully and the other kid should be forced to sit in a meeting to talk it out even if the victim does not want to be there? Because this happens ALL THE TIME.[/quote]

Then they're not done correctly in those cases. Restorative Justice does not stand in place of the consequence; it's supposed to show the offender why the consequence is needed. Sometimes a person who is breaking the trust of the community has to be removed from the community. The situation of a bully and victim "talking it out" is supposed to be used, in my experience, when it's unclear who is the victim--a shoving match on the playground, a back and forth argument that turns physical, and the like. When there is a clear offender and victim, there might be a restorative conversation in which the victim gives what amounts to an impact statement at a sentencing. They certainly should never be forced to do it, though I know some schools that have not properly received the training do violate this.

I'm disappointed by the way many schools have jumped on board RJ without fully comprehending the steps and what they mean. It really is 90% about building community and relationships, and the consequences/discipline aspect is really only a small piece. It's primarily meant to be preventative rather than reactive. I think the higher-ups have taken notice of this and the RJ unit has been doing special trainings and now there is a stipend for each school to have an RJ Coach, to lead school-level trainings.

But anyway, a kid bullying another kid within my class wouldn't be the subject of a circle that I'd lead. We would discuss more objectively about the idea of bullying/being bullied, rather than specifically naming/embarrassing the students involved with a specific incident.[/quote]

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