Applied Research on Restorative Practice Problem background and context

Many schools across the globe are currently applying restorative practice. According to Calhoun (2013), there has been much success since the schools introduced this practice. Some of the successful schools have even proceeded to train other schools and institutions. Restorative practice constitutes diverse aspects, whose impact can influence a number of fields in the education sector such as conflict resolution, truancy, behavioral management and mediation (Hemphill et al., 2014). Restorative practice calls for ownership by everyone involved. This promotes mutual responsibility and this creates such an atmosphere in which resolution can occur.

Bolitho (2012) states that managing student misbehavior is one of the most crucial issues facing most schools across the world. The current approach in discipline is quite punitive, so to say. Many schools tend to apply zero tolerance policies. Though well intended, such policies have not yielded good results. In fact, they have done more harm than good. Skiba (2013) asserts that such policies have led to a rise in the number of expulsions and suspensions, especially over the last 20 years.

Suspension and expulsion have been used in schools as punishment for students who violate certain laid down rules. The rate of suspensions and expulsions has doubled since the 1970s. Misbehaving students are mostly given out-of-school suspensions (Calhoum, 2013). This form of punishment is not the best, given the negative and long-lasting impact it has on students. Some of these impacts are: higher incidences of academic failure, high number of school dropouts, drug and substance abuse, and unnecessary fights, among others. This has led to many schools abandoning the zero tolerance policies, and adopting restorative justice to instil discipline in the school going students (Perry & Morris, 2014). Restorative justice considers the person who has been harmed, and not the laws which have been broken. It also looks at the losses suffered by the victim instead of concentrating on the offender.

Purpose of the study

Restorative practices are categorized under social justice. Thus, social workers are one of the most important advocates for students. They have a duty to uphold social justice (Perry & Morris, 2014). They therefore need to stay updated on current trends in restorative practice. Once they have a deep understanding of these practices, they can implement the same on the students as a sound approach to discipline. (Hemphill et al., 2014). They also require the necessary skills and training to advocate for this form of discipline.

The...

Connection between the students and the teachers is one important thing. Restorative practices help create this time for connection, between the students themselves as well as between the students and the teachers. It becomes quite confusing to hold a restorative conference for some serious case while still acting punitively to conflicts. Young people need a complete trust in the staff in order for them to embrace the restorative approach. This of course holds when the students are honest enough to disclose what wrongs they have done. Hiding one’s wrong doings does not work with restorative practices. This study will also compare the restorative approach with the zero tolerance practices, and deduce which one is more beneficial. Thus, this study will analyse the effectiveness of some of the restorative practices used in schools. The findings are seen to adequately equip the social workers in their course of promoting justice.
Research questions

The following are the main questions this study will seek to answer:

1. What is restorative justice? What is the importance of restorative justice? A study on restorative justice will address the needs of the students within the school community. Restorative practice is meant to resolve conflicts among students, and teach the same students to be responsible and accountable, in such a way that they can reason rationally before engaging in any scrupulous deed. Restorative justice also brings back positive relationships between previously conflicting parties.

2. What is the difference between restorative justice and other forms of discipline?

3. How can we prevent offender recidivism through restorative practices?

4. How can relationships be strengthened through restorative practices?

Literature Review

It is common place for students in U.S. schools who disrupt the ideal classroom environment, or who endanger other classmates, to be temporarily suspended or permanently expelled. This need to reduce conflict and student misbehavior in schools has been a recurring problem, for many years on end. Worse still, the methods used to deal with such misbehavior have not been successful. Quite a number of authors have justified the need for suspension and expulsion for students who threaten the peace of others.

Going back through time, restorative practices were effectively applied in both indigenous and spiritual traditions. This fact has led many countries to opt for restorative practice, instead of the other retributive methods. This is because…