Implementing restorative justice in schools is a powerful way to build a positive school culture, reduce conflicts, and promote equity in discipline.
However, as with any new initiative, there are common pitfalls that schools can encounter along the way — but recognizing and addressing these mistakes early can make all the difference in the success of your restorative justice program.
In this post, you’ll learn five common mistakes schools make with restorative justice, tips for avoiding those restorative justice mistakes, and how a classroom and behavior management tool like SchoolMint Hero can help you effectively implement restorative justice.
Mistake #1: Treating Restorative Justice as a Quick Fix
- The Pitfall: Restorative justice is often seen as a quick solution to reduce suspensions and improve school climate. While it can have immediate benefits, restorative justice is more about changing the school culture than just managing behavior.
- How to Avoid It: Approach restorative justice as a long-term commitment rather than a one-time intervention. Ensure that all staff members understand the philosophy behind restorative practices and are trained in how to implement them effectively. This might require ongoing professional development and a shift in mindset, but the payoff is a more inclusive and supportive school environment.
Interested in delivering effective PD around restorative justice to teachers? SchoolMint Grow is a teacher coaching platform that allows you to develop teachers’ instructional and classroom management skills. Learn more about using coaching to improve restorative justice in the classroom at our website!
Mistake #2: Failing to Gain Buy-In from Staff
- The Pitfall: Without the support of teachers, administrators, and other staff members, your restorative justice efforts are likely to fall flat. If the entire school community isn’t on board, the program can quickly lose momentum.
- How to Avoid It: Start by engaging staff in the planning process. Offer training that emphasizes the benefits of restorative justice for both students and staff, and provide opportunities for teachers to share their experiences and challenges. Using a behavior management platform like SchoolMint Hero can help track and showcase the positive impacts of restorative justice, further encouraging staff buy-in.
Mistake #3: Inconsistent Application of Restorative Practices
- The Pitfall: Inconsistency is a major barrier to the success of restorative justice. If some teachers use restorative practices while others revert to punitive measures, students receive mixed messages, which can undermine the entire effort.
- How to Avoid It: Ensure that restorative justice is applied consistently across the school. This involves creating clear guidelines and protocols for when and how restorative practices should be used. Classroom behavior improvement tools like SchoolMint Hero can help maintain consistency by tracking behavior incidents and ensuring that restorative actions are implemented uniformly across classrooms.
Mistake #4: Neglecting to Address the Underlying Causes of Misbehavior
- The Pitfall: Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm, but it’s essential to identify the root of misbehavior. If the underlying issues aren’t addressed, the same problems are likely to resurface.
- How to Avoid It: Use restorative justice as an opportunity to explore the deeper issues affecting students, whether they’re academic struggles, social challenges, or issues at home. Implement a comprehensive behavior tracking system like SchoolMint Hero, which not only helps identify patterns in student behavior but also provides the data needed to tailor interventions to individual student needs.
Mistake #5: Overlooking the Importance of Follow-Up
- The Pitfall: Restorative justice isn’t a one-and-done process. Without proper follow-up, the benefits of a restorative conversation or circle may not be fully realized, and the conflict could re-emerge.
- How to Avoid It: Always plan for follow-up after a restorative justice session. This could involve checking in with students to ensure that agreed-upon actions have been taken or offering additional support where needed. A platform like SchoolMint Hero makes it easy to set reminders, track progress, and ensure that follow-ups are completed, helping to reinforce the positive outcomes of restorative practices.
Set Your School Up for Success with Restorative Justice
Restorative justice has the potential to transform your school’s approach to discipline and create a more positive and inclusive environment.
By avoiding these common mistakes and using tools like SchoolMint Hero to support your efforts, you can ensure that your restorative justice program is effective and sustainable.
Ready to elevate your school’s restorative justice practices?
SchoolMint Hero is the best student behavior and classroom management system for schools and districts who are serious about creating positive learning environments for students, staff, and teachers.
With SchoolMint Hero, it’s easy for you and your staff to:
- Improve student behavior
- Reduce tardiness and chronic absenteeism
- Support teachers’ classroom management skills
- Implement and enforce a consistent, equitable discipline policy
Learn how SchoolMint Hero can help your school or district improve behavior and attendance here!