Since 2010, NACE schools have been on a journey towards being schools of restorative practice. Those words pack a lot of meaning, especially as the rest of society is beginning to learn more about this movement, and react to it.
"When hurtful behaviour occurs, the restorative mantra of talking about what has happened, looking at who has been affected or harmed and how, and what is needed to make things right, is similar in the Christian context to acknowledging our sin, confession, honest contemplation and reflection on the impact of our actions, reconciliation, and healing." (Bruce Schenk in "Restorative Practice in the Christian Context" - Christian Educators Journal, October, 2010)
This difference of approach is a departure from what many of us have grown up with. I certainly did not have the experience of restoration in my Christian School experience. Offenders were given punishments, the harm would continue quietly, the persons involved (victim and offender) were shamed, victims were silenced, and rarely was the situation 'made right'.
Mark VanderVennen (in the same journal issue of CEJ cited above) points out that "The shift to a restorative paradigm begins by asking this question: when we are in the midst of conflict, how do we image God? We are not permissive; we insist on accountability for behaviour and standards of relational practices..... Instead we are restorative; we hold people accountable in the context of nurture and support. We honour them in their journey towards healing relationships." Often this requires more work of those involved than a simple punitive approach. It is work well worth the result, and certainly well worth the result for those affected!!
In community, that is our step toward making things right.
I have made a number of copies of this issue of the CEJ available for NACE parents who wish to read more about how Restorative Practices align well with our mission as Christian Schools. Please let me know if you would like to have one.
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