South St. Paul Restorative Justice has provided part-time Restorative Justice Culture Guides in the elementary schools for the last five years.
In September of each year the Guide meets and greets new students by grade level. While sitting in a Circle the Guide tells students the Restorative Room is a place to come to talk.
Students are referred by administration, teachers, lunchroom supervisors and in some cases by students themselves. The Guides work three hours per day during the lunch/recess time. Extra time can be arranged with their classroom teacher. Classroom Circles are provided. The teacher picks the topic to be discussed.
The Restorative Room is located near the cafeteria as the students come to discuss situations at school during their lunch/recess time.
RJ Guides assist students, those harmed and those causing the harm, to work together to make things right. The Guide listens to all sides and facilitates discussion about ways to resolve their differences. Way of healing the harm are explored, methods of apology are discussed and when appropriate implemented.
Bullying/fighting interventions are provided as are Circles of support. Academic learning improves when students work together to resolve conflicts.
Simple Methodology
1. Why are you here?
2. What happened?
3. Each person tells their side of the story.
4. What have you learned?
5. What would you do differently?
6. What needs to happen to fix it?
www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/03/12/news/c113restorative.txt
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RJ in SSP Schools 