Youth Voice: When most of us think of schools we think nice, friendly, and most importantly safe environments. As time has progressed, we as a nation have come to realize that this is not true for all schools.
Category: Education
Three years ago, members of SUCCESS (Students United to Create a Climate of Engagement, Support and Safety) started working to make Fresno schools better through restorative justice. Because of their hard work, FUSD board members voted on May 8 to implement restorative justice practices in several Fresno schools. Watch the resolution, the vote, remarks from SUCCESS youth and see what the future holds for restorative justice in Fresno.
Data shows that one in 9 students are suspended nationally, with racial disparities widening. The Central Valley city of Fresno, CA. is among districts seeking to reverse this trend. Under a zero-tolerance school discipline policy, the district has long seen high numbers of both suspensions and expulsions. But in a major reversal last week, Superintendent Michael Hanson announced that he would begin funding district-wide restorative justice programs.
Students, parents, teachers and allies addressed Fresno Unified’s school board members during a school discipline workshop on April 10th. Their message: restorative justice is the answer to keeping students in school, learning.
For any high school senior, this concluding year is stressful on many interchangeable extremes. As a senior I know this firsthand. My already busy schedule was becoming constantly busier by the hour, filled with college admission forms and endless searches for family financial records to complete the even longer process that is applying for financial aid.