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Articles

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2018): CLEARvoz Journal

The Transformative Nature of Restorative Narrative Justice In Schools

  • Richard Cohen
Submitted
May 24, 2018
Published
2018-05-24

Abstract

Restorative justice (RJ) over the last several decades has had a positive impact on school cultures that have begun to shift from cultures of punishment and exclusion to ones of understanding and compassion. This article provides the tools to continue this transformation through an understanding of how narrative processes when merged with neuroscience help us gain deeper understandings of the effective use of restorative processes. Narrative processes encourage the examination of the whole person and his or her identity. Our lives are lived within a socio, cultural, and gendered setting. Being aware of this context, and recognizing the often problematic nature of educator-student relationships, we need the skills to try to prevent problems from arising, and when they do arise, respond to them with compassion, not react to them with anger.  Narrative processes encourage and promote the separation of the problem from the person, and the deconstruction of power dynamics that allow for a more equitable, non-judgmental educational pedagogy to emerge. Neuroscience lends strong scientific support for our compassionate nature.