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Restorative Justice: Promoting Peace and Wellbeing pp 61–78Cite as

Transforming School Climate and Student Discipline: The Restorative Justice Promise for Peace

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Part of the book series: Peace Psychology Book Series ((PPBS))

Abstract

This chapter describes the importance of restorative justice and peace education for addressing conflict and building a positive climate within schools. This approach has the potential to transform experiences for all school community members in ways that promote peace through relationship-centric social organization and end punitive systems of oppression that disproportionately disadvantage children of colour. This chapter reviews recent research on school climate and discipline to support the theoretical argument that restorative justice can promote peace by decreasing disorder and increasing equality through a culture of respect and care for all. Scholarship on the systemic impact of punitive discipline is reviewed, with a particular focus on how it deepens social injustice for youth of colour. When a whole-school approach to restorative justice is implemented, members of the school community have healthier and more harmonious experiences that are freer from oppression and conflict. Students experience greater academic success and psychological and emotional health. Additionally, their chances of being bullied or harmed are lower, and they are less likely to violate rules or laws. Given the value of equality in establishing peace and justice, it is particularly noteworthy that a restorative approach also produces fewer disparities between white students and those of colour. This chapter applies a peace-building perspective on the findings of prior research on school climate and discipline, concluding that restorative justice increases both positive and negative peace. Thus, researchers and practitioners should consider how peace education and restorative justice can be expanded in schools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA

    Allison Ann Payne & Kelly Welch

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  1. Allison Ann Payne
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Correspondence to Allison Ann Payne .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Educational Policy and Leadership, College of Education, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Gabriel Velez

  2. Restorative Justice for All International Institute, London, UK

    Theo Gavrielides

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Payne, A.A., Welch, K. (2022). Transforming School Climate and Student Discipline: The Restorative Justice Promise for Peace. In: Velez, G., Gavrielides, T. (eds) Restorative Justice: Promoting Peace and Wellbeing. Peace Psychology Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13101-1_4

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