The modern judicial system and restorative justice (RJ) both aim to support public peace and safety. But their methods have radically different outcomes. For a quick orientation, check out YRP’s side-by-side comparison. For a deeper understanding of distinctions, let’s start with a brief look at the beginnings of modern RJ. Originating in tribal circles, RJ hasContinue reading “What do we want a justice system to accomplish?”
Author Archives: Julia Steiny
Juvenile Justice and Restorative Conferencing
On The Law Matters with Municipal Judge David Bazar and Deb Morais, Julia discusses YRP’s Restorative Conferencing program in Rhode Island schools, and how this approach could bring new resources to the State’s juvenile justice system. We all agree that the focus of the justice system should be on “rehabilitation”, especially for young offenders. But that meansContinue reading “Juvenile Justice and Restorative Conferencing”
Chronically Misbehaving Kids Suffer Mental and Social Disease
Published by EducationNews.org — Sometimes these students get a chance to shake off the ‘bad kid’ self-image. Too often not. Naturally, Faina Davis, a lawyer and head of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY), would have a happy-ish story about what happens when troubled kids connect with adults who practice Restorative Justice. Far more often, kidsContinue reading “Chronically Misbehaving Kids Suffer Mental and Social Disease”
College Campus Discipline That Works
Published by EducationNews.org — Revenge may be satisfying, but it rarely leads to positive change. Here’s a clear, real-life illustration of the use of Restorative Justice (RJ). Skidmore professor David Karp tells the story of how the college handled two virtually identical incidents before and after the implementation of a RJ campus discipline system. Karp literallyContinue reading “College Campus Discipline That Works”
Rhode Island’s New Law Mandates Recess for Kids
Published by EducationNews.org — Apparently we need the states to step in to prevent the disappearance of playtime in school. Ask adults what their favorite subject in grade school was and often you’ll get “recess.” Yes of course, they also liked the science of erupting volcanoes, reading intriguing stories, and hopefully much more. But young bodies needsContinue reading “Rhode Island’s New Law Mandates Recess for Kids”
Little Kids Need Cool Places to Explore, Not Classroom Time
Published by EducationNews.org — Doesn’t anyone worry that pre-school can teach kids to hate school earlier? Early childhood education has become this year’s education-fix obsession. From the President of the United States to the President of the Rhode Island Senate, we’re now pinning our hopes for improved academic achievement on more for schooling low-income, urbanContinue reading “Little Kids Need Cool Places to Explore, Not Classroom Time”
Always Model Kindness, Especially to Children
Published by EducationNews.org — The kindest response to unwanted behavior is to ask good questions. The trim, tall elementary teacher, whom we’ll call Ms. Larch, paused before answering the question that had been posed to everyone in the circle. Larch was among a group of teachers from all levels in a Restorative Practices (RP) training. RP, inContinue reading “Always Model Kindness, Especially to Children”
Winning the Discipline Wars Takes Restoration
Published by EducationNews.org — Kicking the kid out doesn’t really hold the kid accountable or teach him how to behave. In Fordham Institute’s weekly Flypaper blog, David Griffith offers a tantalizing hope in a piece called “How to end the discipline wars.” He asks, “Is there a more annoying manifestation of our political and culturalContinue reading “Winning the Discipline Wars Takes Restoration”
Online Interactions Are Cultivating Anti-Social Boys
Published by EducationNews.org — How do we help a kid whose social life is mainly with his screens? The boy shrugs off a question for maybe the 10th time that afternoon. He seems incapable of simple human interaction. Mom tries to talk for him as he wriggles and writhes at the table in her impeccable kitchen. No, she’sContinue reading “Online Interactions Are Cultivating Anti-Social Boys”
Only America Refuses to Sign the Children’s Rights Treaty
Published by EducationNews.org — Seriously? Are we so divided that we can’t even agree on taking care of the kids? I can’t imagine a clearer set of ideals for the modern world than those set forth in the United Nations’ 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. The document’s 41 Articles are the conditions ofContinue reading “Only America Refuses to Sign the Children’s Rights Treaty”
