Saturday, February 6, 2010

Diary of an Inner City Teacher II

2/1/10
Today was a pretty cool. I spent the day in the rolling hills of PA at a workshop on Restorative Practices. The leader was dynamic and has somewhat made me a believer...of course until I get back in the classroom and my hair stands straight up on end bracing for the onslaught of energy that will be unleashed.

Restorative Practices is taking the concept of Restorative Justice and developing a broader setting in which its practices can be employed; the premise being that “human beings are happier, more productive and cooperative, and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them.”

“You’re out of here”… “I’m writing you up”… “Keep it up and you’ll be suspended!” These are short phrases that describe the zero tolerance policy in today's educational setting which is problematic and needs to seriously be examined. Is suspension or expulsion the answer? No, because in urban areas the streets become the teacher and in suburban areas the internet becomes the comforter. Is classifying students the answer? No because many classified students will be returning to the regular education setting by way of the inclusion movement thus requiring that the behavior climate in the regular education setting should be ready to receive these students back.

School climate is a definite concern in many school systems and restorative practices is an emerging discipline that addresses this concern.