Starting with
a Pause:
How Restorative
Communication
Transforms Schools
By Annie O’Shaughnessy
True Nature Teaching
How can we hold students accountable and help them recover from harm in ways that
do not damage but instead enhance their connectedness? Restoring good relations in
meaningful ways is the key, and it is what restorative measures are designed to do.
~ Circle in the Square, Riestenberg
I
t’s the first day of school and John enters my high school English classroom late, sits down
in the back and says, “English f ’ ing sucks” at no one in particular. His words hang heavily in
the air as the rest of the students look at me, waiting for my reaction.
I invite you to pause to reflect on how you might respond in this moment. Would you say:
“Using those words in school is inappropriate and will not be tolerated. This is your first warn-
ing.”? Do you respond with humor and sarcasm, “That’s a fine way to start class!”? Or do you
simply ignore his words and get the class started? What would a response sound like that
not only holds the student accountable but also deepens relationship and personal growth
for both parties? I asked myself this question countless times over the 25 years since I first
became a teacher. Studying mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and restorative practices
helped me to finally articulate an answer worth sharing.
Page 2 Winter 2019
CSEE Connections