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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Student Senate January 16, 2007 |
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Jeannette Deloya - Program Support Staff for MMSD Social Workers
Jeannette began the discussion around restorative practices by asking for a definition from the Senate members. One idea was that the practice involved the use of healing around the harm that was created. Shabazz suggested they have that a restorative process. Senate members from the other high schools suggested their school's practiced more punitive models.
Start small, perhaps one grade level or one type of behavioral event. Nor does the change imply that the punitive process is replaced by restorative practices. Rather, there is room for both.
Another strategy may be to discuss with those who feel that restorative practices will not work as a means of actually discovering methods that will be most successful in deploying such practices.
Engaging curriculum is important. Teachers and students must create strong, positive relationships. The question is, "How do you motivate students to want to be at school?"
The Senate watched a video, "Burning Bridges," that described a case study in restorative practices.
Questions and answers followed.
Madison's municipal court uses a youth court option for some cases.
Restorative practices doesn't let someone feel like they are "off the hook." But it does allow the person a way back into the community.
How can this be implemented in MMSD?
Perhaps we use an incremental implementation, starting with elementary schools, then middle schools, and finally high schools. One idea might be to use the high school students to help the elementary students implement restorative practices among the elementary students. Peer to peer work is encouraged.
It might also be useful to have peers who are not from the same school as the perpetrators and victims, as a way of distancing them.
Another option would be to evaluate restorative practices in association with the code of conduct levels.
Possible additional speakers to the Senate on the topic:
Jim Moeser
Judge Kovall
Existing peer court/mediation participants
McFarland schools reps
Allied Drive Youth Court