Campbelltown Primary School's justice for all sees grades rise and behaviour improve
Apr 13, 2011
from Amy Noonan's article in Adelaide Now:
Deputy principal Graeme Shugg said the effect of restorative practices at Campbelltown was immediate. "Teachers reported change within two weeks in their classes," he said.
"We empower kids to question and take responsibility for what they've done and repair the harm and allow the victim to have a say. The bottom line is, the people involved in the problem are the best people to solve the problem."
Suspensions dropped from 86 in 2003 to just 33 last year. In 2003, students were sent to the principal for discipline 683 times. Last year there were 76 referrals to the office.
Mr Shugg said the school, one of three eastern-subrubs schools considered to be disadvantaged, had complex issues to deal with.
"Some of our families come from very low socio-economic backgrounds. We have a lot of non-English speaking background families and they (all) bring with them a lot of other issues that other students don't bring to school with them," he said.
Before 2006, the school had never been above average in national testing.
"Since 2007, we have been regularly above average in most areas in Years 5 and 7, and Year 3s are above average in all areas," he said.
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