What are restorative practices in schools?
There tend to be two understandings of a “restorative approach” &/or “restorative programs” in schools: one is simplistic, the other more complex. The complex version can deliver significant, sustained improvements in student- and staff well-being.
Fortunately, there is now a growing realisation among educators that “restorative practices” in schools involve more than:
- running the occasional community conference to address some specific incident, &
- implementing circle time.
Both of these activities can be highly valuable. However, restorative practices in schools are more usefully understood as part of a broader approach to effective relationship management.
We anticipate that the phrase Relationship-based Education will gain wide currency in coming years.
This systemic, school-wide approach can provide positive support for respectful relationships by applying teachable / learnable skills in:
- offering coaching feedback,
- resolving issues – directly between the people involved or with the support of a meditator, and
- facilitating meetings in various formats.
The philosophy and techniques of restorative practices and relationship-based education have important parallels with what we now know about effective methods of teaching and learning more generally. Members of a school community can use evidence-based techniques to improve the way they build, maintain, and deepen relationships, and also the way they and repair, reset or restorative relations in response to hurt and other harms.
To support the move beyond a system of behaviour management based on “consequences” and rewards, and towards a system of relationship management, requires a virtuous circle of reform – where each element of reform supports other elements. A virtuous circle of mutually reinforcing effective practices can involve the following elements:
© dbmoore
To ensure a common understanding or mindset about relationship-based education, and a common set of practices or skillset (described with a shared language), requires coordination.
© dbmoore
Restorative practices, as part of comprehensive-relationship-based education, provide some of the “how to” for implementing &/or fine-tuning school programs such as:
- School Wide Positive Behaviour Support;
- Respectful Relationships;
- Protective Schools;
and more general social movements such as:
- Positive Education.
For further information, see also:
- the website of Restorative Schools Australia.
- the network Restorative Practice in Victorian Schools, which was created in 2021 to facilitate and promote collaboration and the sharing of ideas, experiences and expertise in relationship-based education, including restorative practices.
The founders are creating an environment that supports educators and schools to sustain best practice and to build relationships between schools. Members are supporting each other in the work of implementing and sustaining restorative approaches.
Please note: colleagues in other jurisdictions are welcome to join