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Home / Discover SDoL / Safety & Culture / Restorative Practices

Safety & Culture

A relationship-centered approach to conflict resolution

At the School District of Lancaster, we believe that people are happier, more cooperative, more productive, and more likely to make positive changes in behavior when those in position of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them.

That’s why SDoL takes a restorative approach to resolving conflict in schools. The aim of our restorative practices is to develop community among students and adults. Once a relationship is developed, we can manage conflict and tension by repairing harm and restoring relationships.

During the 2019-2020 school year, our staff is being trained in the tools of Restorative Practices so that they can develop a community within their classroom and are able to help facilitate conversations that repair harm.

When we need to repair harm and restore relationships, we ask several questions:

When things go wrong

  • What happened?
  • What were you thinking at the time?
  • What have you thought about since?
  • Who has been affected by what you have done? In what way?
  • What do you think you need to do to make things right?

When someone has been harmed

  • What did you think when you realized what had happened?
  • What impact has this incident had on you and others?
  • What has been the hardest thing for you?
  • What do you think needs to happen to make things right?