Education: Time for Change

Thanking educators who are making a difference in the lives of so many, and acknowledging parents and caregivers who are homeschooling.

Schools have reopened yet we remain in a time of transition.

Education, like other institutions, require change moving forward. Around the world, restorative practices play a key role in building relations, enhancing learning, resolving conflict, and creating healthy, robust school communities.

We are honoured to work with schools. Contact us if interested in facilitation, training, or presentations.

Remembering the Children Who Never Returned Home

Photo Courtesy: The Canadian Press, Justin Tang

The Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) revealed the names of children who died as a result of  residential schools. This memorial remembers and honours the children, as well as recognizes the pain inflicted on families and communities. There remains extensive work to be done and it continues to be updated. This helps toward fulfilling one of the 94 calls for action of the TRC’s final report.

Schools on Trial – Time for Change

Resources and Inspiration

• Restoring Our Schools: a new collaboration that offers a restorative lens for returning to schools post covid-19
• Edutopia currently has 47 results for “restorative justice”. For example, Fania Davis gives 8 Tips for Schools Interested in Restorative Justice and Matt Davis compiled some Restorative Justice: Resources for Schools
• Teaching Tolerance has a wealth of free resources, including plans, activities, films, and so much more. They have resources that specialize in topics like race, class, ability, sexual orientation, and more. Their mission is “to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy”, with an emphasis on social justice and anti-bias.
• Reconciliation and Residential Schools – a great compilation of readings organized for ages 4 to adult, with teacher resources
• The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) launched a fantastic book bank highlighting titles that focus on diversity and social justice.
• There is a growing wealth of books & resources for RJ in schools! For example:
  • Restorative Justice in Educational Settings & Policies: Bridging the East & West edited by Dennis Wong and Theo Gavrielides
  • Creating Restorative Schools by Martha Brown
  • The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing, and Hope in Schools by Katherine Evans and Dorothy Vaandering
• Here are a couple more focusing on Peace Circles for schools that we use and recommend:
  • Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School Community by Carolyn Boyes-Watson and Kay Pranis
  • Circle in the Square: Building Community and Repairing Harm in School by Nancy Riestenberg
• An article: “Can restorative justice end bullying? These schools are giving it a try. The process values people and relationships over punishment”
• We love our colleagues! Spotlighting even more resources offered by:
  • Oakland Unified School District and San Francisco Unified School District in the USA
  • Belinda Hopkins, Transforming Conflict, in the UK
  • Margaret Thorsborne in Australia
• 5 Activities inspired by Monique Gray Smith’s book “You Hold Me Up”. Invites children to connect reciprocal caring with reconciliation, and highlights the importance of connections with friends, classmates and families
• Meet FRED – Fairness, Respect, Equality & Dignity! A youth-led campaign in partnership with RJ4All

Share your news, favourite resources, and experiences with us; we’d love to hear from you!

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