The School Leader's Guide to Restorative School Discipline

In this guide, which is part of a series of three on restorative school discipline, Meyer (education, Victoria U., New Zealand) and Evans (psychology, Massey U., New Zealand) provide a research-based model that gives principals and other school leaders more productive alternatives to dealing with discipline issues. They offer a process for planning and introducing restorative discipline, which focuses on supportive, educational interventions and developing positive relationships and resolving conflict peacefully. They explain its basis and the characteristics of schools that support it; the role of school climate; setting transparent and fair school-wide behavior expectations and ensuring rules are culturally responsive; specific processes for prevention and conflict resolution such as mediation, conferencing, and dealing with bullying; relationships with families; and how school leaders can address children's achievement, mental health, socioemotional, and social friendship needs through strategies such as mentoring and peer support. They then discuss the framework for interventions with children who have more severe or persistent behavioral challenges, with consideration of ethical and legal issues; the role of the school leader; suicide prevention and intervention; threat assessment; managing assaults and breaking up fights; responding to serious incidents through restorative conferencing and in-school suspension; and evaluating student outcomes and professional development. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)