This week I went to a school to provide the first part of my Restorative Justice 101 professional development to the faculty. With the chairs set in circle, PowerPoint displayed on the screen and handouts ready to go, my best-laid plans changed the instant the assistant principal entered the room.
He outlined the situation as he saw it and expressed concern that things needed to change in team dynamics. Two educators spoke—one supporting the principal’s position, the other sharing a different perspective which others had supported. After they spoke, tension was running high—though no one else offered to say anything.
At this point, the principal ceded the dwindling remainder of our time for my restorative justice lesson. I’ll be honest; I was nervous! But I was also excited to be able to facilitate healing, and I felt the brave folks around me had opened a door to change. I decided to take them over the threshold.
I turned off the projector and engaged them in a restorative circle. After explaining my ground rules and introducing the talking piece with a favorite story, I asked each person to answer the question “What keeps you coming back to school every day?” This gave participants a way to speak without having to engage in the controversy, and it revealed insights and emotions hidden in day-to-day work.
Most folks stayed, listening and sharing with their colleagues a full 45 minutes after the training’s scheduled end time. When they left, the atmosphere in the room was lighter and many smiled and talked as they helped stack chairs. The principal cracked some jokes.
Time didn’t allow us to resolve the situation in that staff meeting, but it did afford a chance to connect and build trust as colleagues and as educators with shared hopes and goals. The next day, I followed up with a short e-mail pointing out the experiential learning we had achieved and inviting them to consider using the Circles process in their classrooms. The same community-building, voice-giving and connecting we experienced can be done with children—sometimes even more easily and powerfully.
Thinking about other times misconduct or conflict changed my best laid plans, I appreciate that restorative justice gives me the tools to get them back on track. Don’t be afraid to put your restorative training to the test with people of all ages. You might find an unexpected opportunity to change cultures and make people’s day.