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This phenomenological qualitative study examined school leaders' perceptions of using restorative practices within their schools. Participants included twelve school leaders who had experience with utilizing and implementing restorative practices. School leaders included: principals, assistant principals, deans, and administrative assistants. Research indicates that restorative practices are adapted to support specific school goals. Restorative practices are not practiced in isolation, as school leaders often couple restorative justice with social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and other social-emotional supports. Restorative practices are tied closely to CASEL’s social emotional framework. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews using a virtual platform. Themes that emerged from the analysis of data included: (a) other staff members help support effective implementation and support of restorative practices; (b) other social-emotional supports, including trauma-informed practices support restorative practices; (c) relationships between staff and students are at the core of restorative practices; and (d) restorative practices positively influence students and the overall school climate. Restorative practices implementation and utility are informal systems influenced by the school leaders' commitment to their implementation.

The threat of school violence plagues high school campuses nationwide. To thwart violent student behavior and create a safe school environment, schools often utilize punitive disciplinary practices. These practices, often referred to as zero-tolerance policies, essentially transform schools into law enforcement models focused on punishment and the exclusion of students from the educational setting. Conversely, restorative justice practices, specifically Circles, provide students with an opportunity to resolve conflicts through dialoguing, problem-solving, building relationships and reflecting on their behavior. Used in conjunction with traditional disciplinary practices, Circles can provide schools with an additional tool to teach appropriate behavior. Currently, there is limited research examining the impact of the Circle process on student behavior and school climate relative to student discipline. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of restorative justice practices, specifically Circles to address behavioral infractions among high school students. The findings of this study add to the current literature surrounding school disciplinary theory and practice and provide school administrators with another option for addressing student behavior. A qualitative case study approach was utilized to examine the impact of Circles at one high school. Thirteen participants were interviewed during a week long visit to West Valley High School (identified by pseudonym). Interviews responses were transcribed, analyzed and coded into themes representing the experiences of the participants in the Circle process. The data for this study revealed the following research findings: (a) the school employed a restorative approach to discipline which included the use of Circles as a complement to traditional disciplinary procedures, (b) the Circle process at WVHS led to the elimination of further behavioral infractions among Circle participants, (c) the Circle process provided students with increased opportunities for conflict resolution and learning, (d) the Circle process provided a forum for students' to discuss personal issues unrelated to the original conflict, and (e) the Circle process had a positive impact on student behavior and the participants' perception of school climate relative to student discipline.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die wesentfike behoefte aan alternatiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent na te vors en riglyne vir altematiewe tugmaatreels op te stel. Die sensitiewe aangeleentheid van disstplinering en tug word nou grootliks aan die onderwysers se inisiatief oorgelaat, en dit terwyl onderwysers nie altyd voldoende onderle is in die nuwe benadering tot alternatiewe dissiplineringsmetodes nie. 'n Teoretiese ondersoek wat uitgevoer is, het die belangriKheid van die inagneming van die leergeremde .adolessent se unieke persoonlikheidstrekke by die toepassing van dissipline beklemtoon. 'n Ernpiriese ondersoek is met behulp van vraelyste uitgevoer by ses spesiale skole in die Gauteng..provinsie. Die empiriese navorsing het bevestig dat onderwysers by hierdie skole 'n behoefte het aan altematiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent. Op grond van die literatuurstudie en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek, is riglyne verskaf vir die opstel van alternatiewe tugmaatreels. / The aim of the study was to identify the need for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent, and to formulate guidelines for the implementation thereof. At present, the sensitive issue of discipline and punishment is left to the discretion of the individual teacher, who may not always be fully conversant with the new approach to alternative disciplinary measures. A theoretical investigation emphasised the importance of the unique personatity traits of the learning diSabled adolescent that should be considered when disciplinary measures are applied. An empirical investigation was carried out by means of a questionnaire at six special schools in the Gauteng Province. The empirical study confirmed that teachers at these schools do need alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent Based on the literature study and the results of the empirical investigation, guidelines were formulated for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die wesentfike behoefte aan alternatiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent na te vors en riglyne vir altematiewe tugmaatreels op te stel. Die sensitiewe aangeleentheid van disstplinering en tug word nou grootliks aan die onderwysers se inisiatief oorgelaat, en dit terwyl onderwysers nie altyd voldoende onderle is in die nuwe benadering tot alternatiewe dissiplineringsmetodes nie. 'n Teoretiese ondersoek wat uitgevoer is, het die belangriKheid van die inagneming van die leergeremde .adolessent se unieke persoonlikheidstrekke by die toepassing van dissipline beklemtoon. 'n Ernpiriese ondersoek is met behulp van vraelyste uitgevoer by ses spesiale skole in die Gauteng..provinsie. Die empiriese navorsing het bevestig dat onderwysers by hierdie skole 'n behoefte het aan altematiewe tugmaatreels vir die leergeremde adolessent. Op grond van die literatuurstudie en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek, is riglyne verskaf vir die opstel van alternatiewe tugmaatreels. / The aim of the study was to identify the need for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent, and to formulate guidelines for the implementation thereof. At present, the sensitive issue of discipline and punishment is left to the discretion of the individual teacher, who may not always be fully conversant with the new approach to alternative disciplinary measures. A theoretical investigation emphasised the importance of the unique personatity traits of the learning diSabled adolescent that should be considered when disciplinary measures are applied. An empirical investigation was carried out by means of a questionnaire at six special schools in the Gauteng Province. The empirical study confirmed that teachers at these schools do need alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent Based on the literature study and the results of the empirical investigation, guidelines were formulated for alternative disciplinary measures for the learning disabled adolescent. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)