Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/274063
Do you want to start a peer court in your school? Contact Karen Junker at kjunker@srcs.org. Here are more resources: www.restorativejustice.org/university- classroom/01introduction The International Institute for Restorative Practices, www.iirp.edu RESOURCES FEATURE Story update: Three months later, Pedro completed his drug counseling sessions, did most of the tutoring, completed all his chores and hasn't missed a day of school. At the time of the court he was earning F's in three classes. But at the end of the quarter he passed all his classes and is no longer in danger of being retained in eighth grade. Statewide Comparison of 2011-12 and 2012-13 Discipline Data She comments that earlier that morning a white student also faced the Peer Court for a drug offense. "I want to make sure the same thing happens to the brown kid that happens to the white kid," says Junker. (It does.) The decision During deliberations, panelists express concern for Pedro and discuss how they can help him get on a better path, showing wisdom far beyond their years. Pedro returns with his father to hear their decision. Panelists tell him he must write apology letters to his family, the school and the community. Pedro must go to drug counseling at Huckleberry House and volunteer there a few times a week. He must also go to tutoring, find an after-school activity that he enjoys, and do chores at home to stay out of trouble. "He will be very busy," whispers Junker. "But hopefully it will keep him from repeating a grade." Pedro agrees to all of the conditions. "Thanks for having me in court," he says. "I will get it all done." Later, he confides that he is pleased with the court's decision. "It's better than having a suspension on my record." His father is also pleased. "I think the court came up with excellent ideas in how to help my son," he says. "He learned a lot. Hopefully he learned that he doesn't want to ever go to a real court, so he needs to stop using drugs, change his friends and stay out of trouble." 2011–12 Total Suspensions Total Expulsions Total Defiance Suspensions 2012–13 -14.1% -12.3% -23.8% 709,596 9,758 341,112 609,471 8,562 259,875 46 M A R C H 2 0 1 4 Educator 03 Mar 2014 v2.0 int.indd 46 3/6/14 10:53 AM