Schools around the world are slowly realising that to simply
punish a child for anything from a schoolyard tussle or bullying
to theft and disrupting a class doesn't really solve the problem
long term and inevitably leaves the victims needing their own
form of closure. That's why more principals and teachers are
steering their schools towards what is known as 'restorative
justice' -a process whereby offenders are compelled to take
responsibility for their actions and the effects of these
actions. Restorative practices expert Margaret Thorsborne,
speaking in Toowoomba next week on restorative practices in the
junior college, says restorative justice is all about the needs
of the victims and the offenders instead of simply ensuring that
the punishment fits the crime. "Instead of just relying on that
we say 'well, we've got the walking wounded here, what are we
going to do to help them heal'," she says. Ideally the process
would involve the victim, the offender and their families
together along with the school s