NYC School Violence Doubles Amid Restorative Justice Policy Failures

New York City's $100 million initiative to replace traditional school discipline with restorative justice practices, emphasizing social-emotional learning and conflict resolution, has faced significant challenges, according to multiple reports. Despite the Department of Education's claims that this approach fosters a supportive environment where students learn from mistakes, data shows police incidents in schools have doubled to 4,200 this year, and chronic absenteeism has risen to 35%. Critics argue that the policy has undermined teacher authority and classroom order without improving school climate or equity, with some disruptive and violent behaviors going unaddressed. Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos acknowledged the need for better implementation and parent involvement but affirmed the commitment to restorative justice. Meanwhile, criminologist Kirk Alleyne's report from Barbados highlights similar themes, advocating for emotional intelligence education, early identification of at-risk youth, and restorative justice to break cycles of violence, suggesting that while restorative justice is a promising framework, its success depends on effective execution and broader community support. Overall, these cases illustrate the complexities and controversies surrounding restorative justice as a disciplinary model in schools.