School safety and discipline require a balanced understanding. It can't be too retributive or too permissive. I don't have the answers to that sweet spot, but some examples clearly go beyond what restorative justice can fix, in my opinion. Here's one.
@citizenstewart I suggest martial arts. A little training can go a long way. A fighting stance alone is enough to dissuade or deter juvenile would-be assailants.
@citizenstewart I don't condone that behavior and the student deserves a juvenile facility, but I blame the antecedent to the bad behavior on the teacher sitting there saying with her legs crossed "Do I look like I care"? She wasn't teaching, just biding time.
@citizenstewart Wouldn’t have happened if she carried a gun. Just sayin.
@citizenstewart I don't even have words for this. Restorative practices do not condone this type of behavior. It's completely unacceptable.
@citizenstewart A school truly practicing restorative justice would identify an issue and work towards a resolution long before it got to this point. And while it certainly doesn’t justify the behavior, the teacher’s disdain for the student is evident and, well…🤷♂️
@citizenstewart Restorative justice is goal oriented - often on a longer horizon. In the moment, there are times when establishing safety for classroom takes precedence. The question is whether there is follow through so a young person like this is not lost. Never simple.