EDUC-516: Restorative Justice in Education

Restorative justice and practices create the space for "transformative learning communities offering unique opportunities to practice freedom, justice, and democratic engagement that transforms participants' ways of engaging and relating to other participant stakeholders (Winn, 2018, pg. 48)." This course provides an introduction and exposure to the principles and practices of restorative justice in the education grounded in the wisdom of the African Diaspora and American Indian peoples. It explores the needs and roles for key stakeholders (i.e. people's roles in circle, communities, education, and justice systems), examines the values and assumptions of the movement, including its spiritual and religious roots, and introduces current restorative justice and practice programs at community, state and international levels. Students will evaluate the potential of restorative justice to transform school communities by exploring research on restorative justice in education; implementation strategies; use of circles' and restorative approaches adapted by school leadership. Students will adopt a race conscious apprach to restorative justice in addressing interpersonal conflict/harm marked by white supremacy, capitalism, imperialism, and patriarchy which often results in human conflict, oppression, power imbalance, and harm (i.e. adultification of Black youth, hate crimes, etc.). Finally, students will examine the empirical evidence for restorative justice and practice, identify critical issues including gaps in theory or practice, and critique its integrity and overall direction in supporting the transformation of education-based communities and their members. [ 3 credits ]