The fact that a panel of intelligent people could make such a decision told me that the current practices and principles guiding disciplinary procedures in our schools are still rooted in the principles of punitive justice.
The focus of punitive justice is first whether any particular rule or law has been violated and then what kind of punishment someone should receive for breaking that rule or law. It has no real focus on what harm has actually been done. It is not particularly focused on helping victims, or those who have broken the rules. It is a terrible model for a school system to be using.
In contrast, a restorative justice model is focused on what actual harm that has been done, what needs to be done to help any victims, and what needs to be done to restore those who have harmed others so they can be in good relationship with others in the future.
I suspect that a vast majority of adults in this country have at one time or another done something stupid such that if we had been caught, or if someone hadn’t decided to give us a break, it could have done significant damage to the future of our lives and careers. Most of us have learned from those mistakes and gone on to lead lives productively contributing to the broader society.
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
Donate Now