Restorative Justice

At MPA, we utilize a restorative justice framework to handle conflict and repair harm. Circles are conducted in all classrooms and we focus on restoring harm rather than punishment. MPA Restorative Justice counselors facilitate circles, de-escalate conflicts, and facilitate tough conversations between students. Students learn how to solve problems, bring back the peace, develop a sense of patience, and how to manage their own emotions when things get tough. These skills are applicable to everyday life because they require mature individuals to talk about their problems and emotions and remain neutral in situations that normally inflict judgment. By talking things out and dealing with a host of different conflicts, students navigate conversations and utilize different strategies to reflect. Restorative Justice is important because it helps students understand why conflicts happen, it is an alternative to punishment, and it helps students recognize healthy ways to manage conflict.