Video Review: The Transformation of West Philadelphia High School: A Story of Hope

by Kate Strong

A troubled high school in Philadelphia undergoes a radical turn-around after restorative practices transform the whole climate of the school.

The DVD is the visual equivalent of a newspaper article: there is little ornamentation and even littler excess. The story presented is simple: West Philadelphia High School had been on the "persistently dangerous" list for six years because of the violence and crime that had plagued the school.

Then, as an attempt to thoroughly transform the school from its bones to its behavior, they introduced restorative practices, including conferencing training and circles for dispute resolution. Within the first year, the crime rate was down by 52%. The next year, the crime rate had dropped another 45%.

Sep 01, 2009 Story, Video Review, School, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA

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