Transforming School Discipline: ‘Restorative Justice’ Conference Planned
Contact: Barb Blazej, (207) 581-2625; George Manlove, (207) 581-3756
ORONO — A conference for teachers and other educators on the new concept of “restorative justice” in K-12 schools is being held Nov. 28-30 in South Portland.
“Transforming Discipline: Building Community through Restorative Practices” is being cosponsored by the Peace Studies Program at the University of Maine, Maine Law & Civics Education at the University of Southern Maine and the Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast. It is supported by the Maine Injury Prevention Program of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
The conference will introduce educators to restorative practices in school discipline and school climate change. Registration opens at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at the Sheraton Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road in South Portland.
The keynote speaker Wednesday evening is Belinda Hopkins, Ph.D., author of “Just Schools: A Whole School Approach to Restorative Justice,” about pioneering restorative practices in the UK and beyond. The conference continues Thursday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Restorative approaches to discipline, rather than punitive, deal more effectively with student misbehavior by encouraging students to take responsibility for their actions and find ways to “make things right” with those they have harmed, according to conference organizers. Restorative discipline empowers students to be accountable for their actions in a school environment that is caring and responsive.
“This conference will bring together national experts and local practitioners of restorative justice in schools,” says Pamela Anderson, director of Maine Law & Civics Education at USM. “These practices can restore a school community after an offense has shattered the sense of safety and security. The conference presentations will address the values, practices and applications of restorative justice in schools at all levels, K-12.”
Restorative practices are proving successful in schools across the country and in Maine, according to conference organizers. A “whole school” approach to discipline builds caring school communities that support students, staff and administrators in feeling connected and respected, which in turn enhances learning results. Restorative practices also create safe schools where all members of the community are accountable for their actions, resolve conflicts, create positive relationships, and build an inclusive, respectful school culture.
The conference is Maine’s first comprehensive look at restorative justice in K-12 schools.
“We’re very excited to be offering this conference to Maine educators who are looking for new and effective ways to manage discipline and conflicts in schools,” says Barbara Blazej, a peace studies program lecturer at the University of Maine and director of the UMaine Youth Violence Prevention Project. “The restorative practices approach teaches important life lessons and promotes a strong sense of community. We see this model as a valuable tool for creating a culture of respect within schools.”
To register online, visit: mainelaw.usm.maine.edu/mlce. To register by telephone, call 207-780-5951, or email: conferences@usm.maine.edu.
Additional details about the conference, including registration fees, can be obtained by calling Barbara Blazej at 207-581-2625, Pamela Anderson at 207-780-4991 or Margaret Micolichek at 207-338-2742. Blazej, Anderson and Micolichek may be reached by email at barbara_blazej@umit.maine.edu, pamelaa@usm.maine.edu and rjpmidcoast@yahoo.com, respectively.
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