Restorative Practice

 

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is the first school district in Ontario to embrace restorative practice in all its schools.

 

Restorative practice is an approach to discipline where the offender, the offender’s parents, the victims, the victims’ parents and school staff are all part of the process. Offenders come to understand the true consequences of their actions, and all parties, including the victim, then have a say in identifying ways the offender can repair the harm that has been done.

Restorative practice does not replace other consequences, such as suspension. Rather, it strives to ensure offenders truly take responsibility for the hurt they have caused others, and take steps to make it right. The Board piloted restorative practice at three elementary schools and one secondary school last year, with great success.

 

We believe the use of restorative practices in schools will eventually be a provincial and national direction. The benefits to students, parents, staff and the community are overwhelmingly positive.

 

The Board has committed to implementing the principles of restorative practice in its schools. Towards that end, in August 2006 Principals and Vice-principals were joined by representatives of local police services at a two-day training conference on restorative practice in the summer. The Board has also trained its regionally-placed behaviour support officers and child and youth workers to act as facilitators to help run restorative practice at schools.

 

For more information on Restorative Practice, please review the introduction attached here,  Restorative Practice Introduction , or contact:

 

Rusty Hick, Superintendent of Education: Student Achievement (Clarington County Schools) and Safe Schools, at: 905-623-4687, ext. 223, e-mail:

Rusty_Hick@kprdsb.ca

Bruce Schenk, Restorative Justice Advisor, at:905-372-5667, ext. 301, e-mail: Bruce_Schenk@kprdsb.ca