Jabari Cobb

December 16, 2024

“Dr. G, you betta get that girl! I have been trying to do the right thing like you asked me to!” I still remember the young lady, the room we were in, “Peace Room”, and the moment she walked into her space to seek help. 

As the newly appointed Director of Student Support, I had a vision of proactive steps to mitigate the risk of students suspended at alarming rates, especially for students of color. This job was a golden opportunity to implement a vision for support BEFORE the violation occurred. As a former school administrator and hearing officer I knew all too well that we suspend students due to lack of compliance with the student code of conduct. The hearing process is a procedural process, but I would ask myself, “What if the student had an opportunity to be supported, or knew where to go for support to avoid a violation of the code of conduct?”

Well, here I was, barely a year removed from the school context or the hearing table, and I saw the possibility of student support, through a system of support and restorative culture embedded in the fabric of the school.

The student knew where to go, the Peace Room, in order to try to avoid violence. I initially thought it was a set up, with a hidden camera somewhere with some carefully orchestrated moments to allow for district personnel to see a Restorative Culture in real time. 

It was not. It was organic. It was effective. It was actual school culture in action. It was a product of a lot of people that eat, sleep, and breathe Restorative Justice. More specifically, the moment was a product of the collaboration with GCC and Clarke Middle School, and that collaboration was alive and well. 

After that, I sought to have more dialogue with Danny and the GCC Team to explore a “Scaled” version of CMS’s Restorative Culture that could be moved to all 24 schools and centers. 

Since then, I have learned the value of various circles, and restorative conversations that can also be deployed as tools for schools/centers and the community. 

That day, I not only believed in GCC, I became a partner with GCC!

other blogs and recommended reading

Restorative Justice

The Feminist Law Professor Who Wants to Stop Arresting People for Domestic Violence

A recent piece from The New Yorker which highlights Leigh Goodmark, a professor at the University of Maryland who advocates for the decriminalization of domestic violence. Though this sounds like a radical position, the article shows statistics that suggest there is merit in an approach that does not involve mass incarceration.

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Suffolk District Attorney to Pilot Restorative Justice Program

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden is piloting a restorative justice program in Chelsea District Court and the Charlestown and Roxbury divisions of Municipal Court.

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School-base Restorative Practices Implementation

Black CPS teens benefit most from shift from suspensions toward restorative practices

A new study finds moving to restorative practices to respond to student misconduct has led to a significant reduction in suspensions and arrests.

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At This Oakland High School, Restorative Justice Goes Far Beyond Discipline

Fremont High students are even helping young students engage in restorative justice practices.

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New Study: Black, Special Ed Students Punished at Greater Rate Through Pandemic

Despite a dramatic decline in suspensions as students moved to remote learning during the pandemic, Black children and those in special education were disciplined far more often than white students and those in general education, according to a recent New York University study.

Read full article (LINK OPENS IN A NEW TAB) →