When I hear about schools wanting to do restorative justice, I often wonder, "Do you really want to do the work of Restorative Justice (RJ)?"
Because in order to do the real work of RJ it's going to require quite a bit for you and your community.
Now, I'm not writing to discourage folks from engaging in the practice, quite contrary. I'm writing for schools and communities who have yet not embarked on a full restorative justice journey and are either beginning or making the recommitment to do so.
In her recent work, Anne Gregory of Rutgers proposes 12 indicators of Restorative Justice that is worth reading. These indicators attempt to identify the structural components necessary for restorative work and implementation.
But I wonder if folks can ask themselves a few questions prior to launching and/or investing in the work that might help them make a decision moving forward.
Because restorative work is going to require from you ...
- A commitment to be vulnerable, open and sharing power in a way that will most likely shift dynamics
- Re-imagining and reentering relationships at every level of your school site, community and district
- Knowing that its going to be a messy often incredibly humbling experience where you personally will have to engage in the deep practice of dealing with your own stuff
