At Robert Smith School, this year our team has been implementing Restitution as a key approach to student discipline. Restitution is an approach that helps students learn to be better rather than focusing on punishment. A major goal of Restitution is to help students learn how to repair the harm that was caused through misbehavior or poor-decision making. This approach, which helps students to manage their feelings, actions and emotions, is important not only for discipline, but in counselling as well, as it leads to better self-awareness and empathy for others.
Underlying Restitution philosophy is the belief that when students misbehave they are trying to meet one of the following four needs: they want more FREEDOM, FUN, BELONGING OR POWER. So, at Robert Smith School, when students have difficulty following one of our school-wide rules, we try to help them understand which of these four basic needs they were trying to fulfill and then we try to help them find a better (safer, kinder, more respectful/responsible) way to meet this need.
Using Restitution, questions which school staff might ask to prompt student reflection and learning follow:
What do we believe? ( …. That behaving safely, kindly, respectfully, responsibly is important … ) Do you believe it?
You didn’t do that (… something unsafe, unkind, disrespectful or irresponsible) for no reason … What was your need?
Are you being the kind of person you want to be?
Are you being a good friend to yourself?
Is what you’re doing getting you what you want?
Is what you’re doing now helping or hurting the problem?
Is it okay to make a mistake? (Yes … we all make mistakes …)
Do you want to figure out a better way?
If you fix it . . . , (repair the damage or make amends) what does that say about you?
What did we agree on? Can you do that? Do you need help?
Why make this shift toward a more restorative approach to discipline? Research has shown that in schools where Restitution is used, there has been dramatic improvement in students’ attitudes, behaviour and learning. Similarly, at Robert Smith School we have been very encouraged by student responses and their interest in practising safe, kind, respectful and responsible behaviours when we make a concerted effort to concept teach and provide guidance about these values. If you are interested in learning more about Restitution, please do not hesitate to contact the school principal, your child’s teacher, the resource teachers or me at [email protected] or by telephone at 230-482-3677 ext. 206.
Underlying Restitution philosophy is the belief that when students misbehave they are trying to meet one of the following four needs: they want more FREEDOM, FUN, BELONGING OR POWER. So, at Robert Smith School, when students have difficulty following one of our school-wide rules, we try to help them understand which of these four basic needs they were trying to fulfill and then we try to help them find a better (safer, kinder, more respectful/responsible) way to meet this need.
Using Restitution, questions which school staff might ask to prompt student reflection and learning follow:
What do we believe? ( …. That behaving safely, kindly, respectfully, responsibly is important … ) Do you believe it?
You didn’t do that (… something unsafe, unkind, disrespectful or irresponsible) for no reason … What was your need?
Are you being the kind of person you want to be?
Are you being a good friend to yourself?
Is what you’re doing getting you what you want?
Is what you’re doing now helping or hurting the problem?
Is it okay to make a mistake? (Yes … we all make mistakes …)
Do you want to figure out a better way?
If you fix it . . . , (repair the damage or make amends) what does that say about you?
What did we agree on? Can you do that? Do you need help?
Why make this shift toward a more restorative approach to discipline? Research has shown that in schools where Restitution is used, there has been dramatic improvement in students’ attitudes, behaviour and learning. Similarly, at Robert Smith School we have been very encouraged by student responses and their interest in practising safe, kind, respectful and responsible behaviours when we make a concerted effort to concept teach and provide guidance about these values. If you are interested in learning more about Restitution, please do not hesitate to contact the school principal, your child’s teacher, the resource teachers or me at [email protected] or by telephone at 230-482-3677 ext. 206.