Welcome to my website
The purpose of this website is to provide a forum for me to share with others the work I am doing. Currently I am primarily working in the field of restorative practices in schools. My research and professional development interests focus on how schools can use restorative practices to respond to student wrongdoing and conflict in conjunction with a culturally appropriate pedagogy of relations in classrooms under the umbrella of a culture of care to create safe schools. In this environment students experience freedom from harm and the threat of harm and freedom to be who and what they are.
Restorative justice is a valued-based approach to responding to wrongdoing and conflict, with a balanced focus on the person harmed, the person causing the harm, and the affected community. Restorative justice focuses on transforming wrongdoing by healing the harm, particularly to relationships, that is created by harmful behaviour. The primary stakeholders in restorative justice processes are the person(s) who caused the harm (offender), the person(s) harmed (victim), and the affected community. By collectively identifying and addressing harms, needs, and obligations resulting from wrongdoing, we are able to create healing and put things right again.
This web site was created to give those communities and organisations wanting to adopt restorative justice practices a foundation of restorative justice theory and practice. To that end, my research, experiences, and writings are shared here. Other work can be found at my University of Waikato website, http://edlinked.soe.waikato.ac.nz/staff/index.php?user=cavanagh
Internet search content:
Restorative justice is a new framework for responding to wrongdoing and conflict that is rapidly gaining acceptance and support by educational, legal, social work, and counselling professionals and community groups Restorative justice involves looking beyond retribution to find deeper solutions that heal broken relationships. This website explain the theory and practice of this concept; it also can direct you to information on peacemaking and victim-offender mediation. Learners will investigate the need for restorative justice and how it differs from the current criminal justice practices. The restorative justice process and the most common ways restorative justice is currently practised will be described, including restorative practices in schools, a culturally appropriate pedagogy of relationships, the theory of a culture of care in schools, and peace education. The essential principles for restorative justice, features important to program strength and effectiveness, and considerations for making key program decisions will be explored.
Restorative Justice
Hosted by Dr Tom Cavanagh
This picture of me was taken by my wife Monica as I walked on the beach near where we live in New Zealand. I enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of Whaingaroa Harbour and feel privileged to live in this wonderful place.