Teachers Unite for Restorative Justice and Dignity in Schools
Teachers Unite is a steering committee member of the New York City chapter of the Dignity in Schools Campaign, a coalition of youth, parent, and community members. Building on the success of the Student Safety Act (adopted by the New York City Council on December 2010), the coalition works with schools and calls on the NYC Department of Education to implement positive restorative justice practices rather than punitive school safety and school discipline measures.
Teachers Unite is also a member of the national Dignity in Schools campaign to end the School to Prison Pipeline and its disproportionate impact on youth of color and youth with special needs. Made up of national and local community based organizations and advocates, the coalition uses a coordinated set of legislative, public education and organizing strategies.
Get Involved. Bring Restorative Justice to New York City Schools
Teachers Unite members and staff facilitate a Restorative Justice Campaign Committee and participate as coalition members in the Dignity in Schools Campaign in New York City. All teachers, parents, school staff, youth and community allies are encouraged to join us. We especially encourage educators and community allies to join Teachers Unite as members as part of our ongoing commitment to organizational and community accountability. Our members lead our projects and direct the work of Teachers Unite staff.
Current Projects
1.) Teachers Unite with the Dignity in Schools Campaign
Collaborating with our youth and parent partners in the Dignity in Schools-NY and Dignity in Schools (http://dignityinschools.org/) national coalition. To get involved in this exciting campaign to ensure that the NYC Dept. of Education prioritize and fully fund restorative alternatives to punitive justice, join as a Teachers Unite educator or ally member and contact Natalie at natalie@teachersunite.net.
2.) Restorative Justice School Chapters & Borough Networks
Teachers Unite members partner with fellow educators, students, and parents to sustain and begin pilot restorative practice programs in schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn. In a number of schools, we are working with our fellow UFT members to advocate and practice restorative justice as a union chapter and at the School Leadership Team level. Also in Spring 2012, we will be launching monthly restorative practice circles in the Bronx and Brooklyn for educators to share strategies and build community. If you are interested in this project, contact Natalie at natalie@teachersunite.net and she'll put you in touch with Teachers Unite members in your borough leading these projects.
3.) Restorative Justice Study and Action Groups
Teachers Unite members believe that long-term change will come through examining our theories and concepts of justice and putting these beliefs into practice (praxis). We regularly hold study and discusion groups on restorative practices, community accountability, the prison industrial complex and transformative justice. Building on the success of our Spring/ Summer 2011 Restorative Justice Study Group, we plan to run another study group on restorative and transformative practices in K-12 settings at the end of Spring 2012. If you are interested in getting involved in planning or attending future study groups and workshops, contact Natalie at natalie(at)teachersunite.net.
History of Teachers Unite's Restorative Justice Work
In a collaboration with the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI), Teachers Unite published Teachers Talk: School Culture, Safety and Human Rights in 2008. This report brought teachers voices to the debate about discipline and safety in schools, and opened the door for meetings and dialogue between Department of Education officials, youth and advocate groups that was not otherwise possible. The report also generated interest from conflict resolution groups and funders to pilot its recommendations in schools. Teachers Unite’s work in this area helped us build relationships with grassroots youth, policy and legal advocates as an important ally.
In 2010, Teachers Unite participated in the Student Safety Act coalition and successfully won a campaign for the New York City Council to adopt the Student Safety Act. The Student Safety Act includes the following components: 1.) Creates accountability and transparency over police behavior in our schools, 2.) Expands the jurisdiction of the Civilian Complaint Review Board to include School Safety Agents, 3.) Requires the Department of Education to report to City Council on the numbers of suspensions, expulsions, arrests and student-police altercations in schools.
In Fall 2010, Teachers Unite joined the Dignity in Schools-NY Campaign as a steering committee member and in Spring 2011 members initiated a campaign to build a network of NYC public school educators practicing restorative justice and looking to integrate restorative practices into their teaching. Over 2011, Teachers Unite has conducted restorative practice trainings with nationally celebrated circle trainer Kay Pranis, a study group, and collaborated with Dignity in Schools-NY and national Dignity in Schools youth and parent organizers to call on the NYC Department of Education to fully fund and support restorative alternatives to punitive discipline.
For more on what we do:
Ryan Mendías's Reflections on Teachers Unite's Restorative Justice Study Group (Summer 2011)
Emily Shaw's Reflections on Teachers Unite's Fairness Committee Workshop
Liza Campbell's "No Tolerance for Zero-Tolerance: Developing Restorative Alternatives" in Gotham Schools
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What is the School to Prison Pipeline?
Nationwide system of local, state and federal education and public safety policies that pushes students out of school and into the criminal justice system. This system disproportionately targets youth of color and youth with disabilities. Inequities in areas such as school discipline, policing practices, high-stakes testing and the prison industry contribute to the pipeline. For more visit www.nyclu.org/schooltoprison
How Can We Bring Restorative Justice to Schools?
Restorative justice describes a broad range of practices and strategies to promote community accountability in response to harm and violence in our communities. Restorative practices are a positive alternative to punitive and zero tolerance approaches to discipline. Common forms of restorative practices practiced in K-12 schools include:
Restorative Circles: Group circles where students work together to set academic goals, explore curriculum, develop core values for the classroom community, and address tensions within the school community. For more on circles visit: www.livingjusticepress.org/index.asp
Fairness Committees/Justice Committees: Peer committees or peer/teacher committees that address disciplinary issues by talking with students involved about the causes of the issues and identify positive solutions to repari the harm done to the community. Common positive solutions include mediation, community service, conflict resolution, etc.
Teachers Unite members and staff regularly organize workshops and skill shares on restorative practices. During Spring and Summer 2011 we are hosting a workshop on fairness committees, a reading group, restorative circle workshop, and teacher discussion group. Contact natalie@teachersunite.net to learn more.
Restorative Justice Resources
Teachers Unite members and the Dignity in Schools Campaign-NY are currently compiling resources for teachers, parents, and youth interested in learning more and implementing restorative approaches in their schools and community.
If you have recommendations on reading materials, curricula, and handbooks not listed below, email your suggestions tonatalie(at)teachersunite.net. Thanks!
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RESOURCES:
Teachers Unite Summer 2011 Restorative Justice Study Group Readings: Click here
Joshua Heisler's library on building a just school through Fairness Committees: Click here
Maria Hantzopoulos. "Deepening Democracy: How one school's fairness committee offers an alternative to "discipline." Rethinking Schools. Vol 21. N.1. Fall 2006
Dignity in Schools Campaign-National Resource Library for Educators: www.dignityinschools.org/content/guides-implementing-positive-discipline-and-preventing-pushout
Parents Organized to Win, Educate and Renew— Policy Action Council (POWER-PAC) Parent Guide to Restorative Justice: www.dignityinschools.org/content/parent-parent-guide
"Cradle to Prison Pipeline 'Zine": juvenileinjustice.wordpress.com/
'Zine on the Prison Industrial Complex and School Push-Out: chicagopiccollective.com/resources/pic-zine/
