TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Vigo County Schools could soon implement a different form of discipline for their students.
They’re called restorative practices and are meant to build relationships within school.
In theory, two students would sit down for a mediated discussion and work to solve the conflict. No detentions or suspensions would be necessary.
The corporation spent Wednesday training staff to guide these discussions.
Haley Ringwald, principal of Ouabache Elementary, has already implemented restorative practices in her school.
“It’s amazing what these students will come up with for what they need, so that all the harm can be repaired for them and they feel comfortable with a solution instead of the traditional ways of maybe like a punishment or the ways we’ve done discipline in the past, so the students are kind of the ones coming up with how they want the problem to be solved,” explains Ringwald.
Vigo County Schools say they’re focused on evolving with their students and say this is a step in the right direction.
