Restorative Justice in SSP Schools

South St. Paul Restorative Justice has provided part-time Restorative Justice Culture Guides in the elementary schools for the last seven years.
In September of each year the Guide meets and greets new students by grade level.  While sitting in a Circle the Guide tells students the  Restorative Room is a place to come to talk.

Students are referred by administration, teachers, lunchroom supervisors and in some cases by students themselves.  The Guides work three hours per day during the lunch/recess time.  Extra time can be arranged with their classroom teacher.  Classroom Circles are provided.  The teacher picks the topic to be discussed.

The Restorative Room is located near the cafeteria as the students come to discuss situations at school during their lunch/recess time.

RJ Guides assist students, those harmed and those causing the harm, to work together to make things right.  The Guide listens to all sides and facilitates discussion about ways to resolve their differences.  Ways of healing the harm are explored, methods of apology are discussed and when appropriate implemented.

Bullying/fighting interventions are provided as are Circles of support.  Academic learning improves when students work together to resolve conflicts.

Simple Methodology

1.  Why are you here?
2.  What happened?
3.  Each person tells their side of the story.
4.  What have you learned?
5.  What would you do differently?
6.  What needs to happen to fix it?

Letter to the South St. Paul Restorative Justice Council
August 5, 2010

I owe a debt of gratitude to JoAnn Ward. I had the honor to work with the South St. Paul School District and South St. Paul Restorative Justice from 1998-2001 when the school district had funds to implement and evaluate restorative measures in their schools. The outcomes were great—decrease in behavior referrals, suspensions, increase in positive school climate. The efforts of the district showed to the world that restorative measures was a promising practice, that is could make a difference in creating a peaceful school. The final report on the grant was sent to lots of folks and I still see today the South St. Paul story held up as evidence.

But funds went away, and staff left, and I thought, well that is the last of that great experiment. But the Council responded: they figured how to keep RJ in the school. You could say that they invented the Restorative Justice Guide. JoAnn’s dogged determination to have the community help the school, with and often without funds, gave me hope that even as the school faculty and fortunes changed, the belief that children could resolve their own problems, with the care of adults, would not disappear, as so many grant funded initiatives do. I could count on referring her to our international guests, and she would be a gracious host. She was ready with an answer or suggestion to a fledgling RJ practitioner. She has served her community well.

I was once told by a judge that I was an officer of the state. Well, as an officer of the state, and on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota, I want to thank JoAnn for her help for all the children of the state. Her work has made a difference.

Nancy Riestenberg
Prevention Specialist
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 West Highway 36
Roseville, MN 55113
651-582-8433
nancy.riestenberg@state.mn.us