With the help of new progressive discipline policies, Oregon public schools have been consumed by a culture of tolerance toward hate and violence (Cook, 2023) disguised as “restorative justice.” While punitive justice ensures that violent perpetrators suffer the consequences for their actions, restorative justice claims to prioritize mending relationships and repairing harm experienced by the victims (Pate, 2023). It also instructs teachers to not discipline students for acts of disruption (Oregon Catalyst, 2023). Last year, 48 Portland Public School teachers signed a letter demanding immediate action by district leaders, charging that most middle schools were “plagued with violence amongst our students, with students and staff alike subjected to disruptions in the learning environment, physical injuries and emotional harm” (Silverman, 2023). Portland Public Schools safety and security task force has even recommended having police officers stationed near schools in order to allow them to respond quickly to cases of violent attacks (KGW8, 2023). Continue reading “Hazelbrook Horror: The Epidemic of Restorative Violence Raising Hell in the Hallways”
