Better way than Old-School Punishment

by Admin · June 23, 2015

At a time when learners know their rights, is there an alternative to corporal punishment? ANNE?BAKER explains how discipline based on the restorative justice model can make for happier schools.

In the restorative justice model of discipline, the accent is not on punishment but on respect, responsibility, repair and reintegration.

In 2012, the Catholic Schools Proprietors Association (CaSPA) launched a new policy to protect children at school from harm.

Catholic Social Teaching has as its first principle the principle of human dignity: �Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family.�

This means that every person�regardless of race, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, employment or economic status, health, intelligence, achievement or any other differentiating characteristic�is worthy of respect. Our children therefore need protection from any form of harm.

To help schools understand and implement the policy, workshops were delivered to numerous schools across the country during 2012.

Tools to assist in reporting and recording incidents of abuse were made available. School governing bodies and boards of governors are expected to adopt this policy and ensure that school management implements it.

What became clear during these workshops was that teachers find themselves under pressure to ensure discipline but struggle with how to do this. We heard that since children know that they have rights, discipline at schools has become very difficult.

There were strong feelings that while corporal punishment was made illegal, teachers were not assisted to manage discipline any other way.

It became apparent that corporal punishment was still administered in some schools, against the law and in spite of principals� efforts to stop this. It was also clear that bullying in schools was a major problem.

These issues raised the question of whether children were actually safe in schools.

A further problem appeared to be that the traditional parent-school partnership of working together to help children with discipline issues has disappeared. Schools now relate how parents do not cooperate when their children are in trouble and in fact actively oppose school solutions to problems.

After reflection and deliberation, the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE)� developed a �Building Peaceful Catholic Schools� programme. This involves building on the Catholic ethos of care and safety for all members of the school community.

It also enables wrongdoers to be accountable for their actions to those whom they have harmed, and enables them to put things right, as far as possible.

It develops the social skills of those whose behaviour causes harm and develops their self-image.

The first step in this programme involves a climate survey for teachers to help understand their concerns and the challenges they face. Workshops for teachers, parents and pupils outline and explain this new way of discipline.

In addition, schools will be offered support by CIE regional managers as they explore and implement peace-building and alternative ways to deal with discipline issues.

A further aspect will be the drafting and reviewing of Codes of Conduct.

The foundation for the programme is the restorative justice model which focuses on conflict resolution and �making things right�. Restorative Justice has the potential to make schools happier, safer places and reduce the need for disciplinary hearings and suspensions.

It helps schools to become places of inclusion and belonging, as well as to raise morale and self-esteem, increase attendance, address the issue of bullying in the whole school community, and assist teachers with stress and the need to leave the profession.

The four key features of restorative justice are:

Respect�for everyone by listening to other opinions and learning to listen to them;

Responsibility�taking responsibility for your own actions;

Repair�developing the skills within the community so its individual members have the necessary skills to identify solutions that repair harm;

Reintegration�working through a structured, supportive process that resolves the issue and ensures that behaviours are not repeated, allowing pupils to remain in school while also achieving all of the above.

Staff of the CIE and the Catholic Schools Offices are offering formation and training on this programme.

Restorative justice in schools provides empowerment for teachers and pupils to have their needs voiced, their feelings heard and to heal harm if caused, as well as being included in the process of repairing damage.

This programme aims to help ensure that the dignity of every member of the school community is respected by all and that schools will truly develop their Catholic ethos.