Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Restorative Justice sounds so good in theory. I worked in two DCPS Middle Schools over three years that claimed to utilize this strategy. The truth is, RJ is rarely used, and if it is used, it's way after the fact. Often the victim is made to apologize for some trumped-up offense. The aggressors rarely own up to what they've done or the harm they've caused. Noone is restored and there is no justice.

+1

+1

No one does restorative justice the way it is meant to be done. Like so many DCPS policies and strategies it’s just for PR. And principals can’t really suspend kids anymore because it hurts the school’s ratings. The pendulum has swung too far in the other direction to protect the aggressors instead of the victims. And many times the victims are kids without many resources and traumatic home experiences just like the aggressors. It’s a terrible message to send.

They can’t suspend anymore in middle because it’s against the law.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Restorative Justice sounds so good in theory. I worked in two DCPS Middle Schools over three years that claimed to utilize this strategy. The truth is, RJ is rarely used, and if it is used, it's way after the fact. Often the victim is made to apologize for some trumped-up offense. The aggressors rarely own up to what they've done or the harm they've caused. Noone is restored and there is no justice.

+1

+1

No one does restorative justice the way it is meant to be done. Like so many DCPS policies and strategies it’s just for PR. And principals can’t really suspend kids anymore because it hurts the school’s ratings. The pendulum has swung too far in the other direction to protect the aggressors instead of the victims. And many times the victims are kids without many resources and traumatic home experiences just like the aggressors. It’s a terrible message to send.

Anonymous wrote:Restorative Justice sounds so good in theory. I worked in two DCPS Middle Schools over three years that claimed to utilize this strategy. The truth is, RJ is rarely used, and if it is used, it's way after the fact. Often the victim is made to apologize for some trumped-up offense. The aggressors rarely own up to what they've done or the harm they've caused. Noone is restored and there is no justice.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

So in your opinion, the current system at Deal is working well?
I think you are avoiding facing reality my friend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

Also private schools have different and in many ways worse problems. Relational aggression is next level at private schools. Relational aggression can be far worse than physical aggression long term.

You can't be serious.

Private schools have their issues, i'll grant you that, but kids beating each other up on a regular basis - or any form of 'relational aggression' - is not one of them

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

Chef’s kiss for articulating your defense of restorative justice as “STFU.”
It must work great.

No kidding! What an angry human to use such aggressive language.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

Chef’s kiss for articulating your defense of restorative justice as “STFU.”
It must work great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

This is definitely true if the messaging at home does not support suspension as consequence for the behavior; in those cases in school suspensions are probably more effective. Loss of access to learning should be universally viewed as a punishment, but it's not. Suspension is probably not a reward for the majority of kids.

Restorative Justice sounds so good in theory. I worked in two DCPS Middle Schools over three years that claimed to utilize this strategy. The truth is, RJ is rarely used, and if it is used, it's way after the fact. Often the victim is made to apologize for some trumped-up offense. The aggressors rarely own up to what they've done or the harm they've caused. Noone is restored and there is no justice.

I think attempts to relativize this violence are really dangerous.

The psychological impact on bystanders and victims can be profound, from what we have experienced.

Students learn to not respect authority. If a student can hit a teacher, and they return to school the next day, the teacher loses face.

In fact, it makes more sense to curry favor with an unruly classmate than with a teacher, bc the teacher isn’t going to to be able to protect you, and the classmate might.

Students learn to fight viciously and to delight in violence, in order to survive and protect friends. It’s a primal distraction. Forget schoolwork.

And I’m convinced there’s an impact on brain functioning.

As for the aggressors — if the violence can be considered a cry for help, that cry isn’t answered if we just ignore their violent acts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

Also private schools have different and in many ways worse problems. Relational aggression is next level at private schools. Relational aggression can be far worse than physical aggression long term.

LoL! Sure, relational aggression is unique to private schools. Way to grasp at straws. Enjoy the daily fight club and out of control students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

DP. And I am familiar with restorative justice in DCPS. IME, it has no impact on the aggressor and further punishes the victim. And out of school suspension gets that aggressive kid away from the other people in the building who are trying to teach and learn. What are you not protecting the victims?

+1

We are seeing increasinly violent behavior in a different DCPS middle school. The kids know there will be no consequences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

DP. And I am familiar with restorative justice in DCPS. IME, it has no impact on the aggressor and further punishes the victim. And out of school suspension gets that aggressive kid away from the other people in the building who are trying to teach and learn. What are you not protecting the victims?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.

Also private schools have different and in many ways worse problems. Relational aggression is next level at private schools. Relational aggression can be far worse than physical aggression long term.

Anonymous wrote:There are no consequences for kids any more and kids know it.
Teenagers are impulsive and sometimes make bad decisions. Restorative justice, etc., ain’t cutting it. Principal Neal needs to wake up and get tough. In her defence, the woke movement of trying to reform kids with love, tolerance and understanding is all over the country. Even private schools have way less student accountability than they used to. Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.
Teachers are in a bad spot. They are in their own. The administration does not want to hear complaints about unruly kids. I work in a suburban school district and we are facing some of the same issues. Very stressful being a teacher these days

First, middle school kids are a difficult age. Second, you really do not have any clue about restorative justice or whether it works or not so STFU with that claim. Third, out of school suspension completely rewards kids for bad behavior.