The Fall Intensive is a rare opportunity to explore the full potential of restorative practices: a powerful four-day experience that will immerse you in the restorative culture of CSF Buxmont schools for delinquent and at-risk youth (IIRP demonstration programs), followed by two days of core restorative practices professional development. After two days of firsthand involvement in the restorative environment of a CSF Buxmont school, you can immediately deepen your understanding by learning about what you’ve just experienced.
John Bailie, IIRP's Director of Professional Development, has written:
For years the IIRP informally set up visits to alternative schools and day treatment programs for delinquent and at-risk youth operated by CSF Buxmont – a member of the IIRP consortium of organizations. These schools operate wholly on restorative principles and all staff participate in professional development in restorative practices.
Visitors would sit in on restorative circles, observe how teachers manage their classrooms using informal restorative practices, participate in afternoon groups, and discuss with staff their process for handling behavior problems.
In my experience, after a few days immersed in watching teachers, counselors and young people in this highly restorative setting, visitors gained a visceral and practical understanding of the potential for using these practices in their own settings.
This is exactly what happens during the first two days of each Fall Intensive linked to above. On the first two days participants are immersed in one of the alternative schools we administer and get to see restorative practices in action with a challenging population of young people. We then follow this “immersion” with two days of professional development – “Introduction to Restorative Practices” and “Using Circles Effectively.”
I have sat through many workshops and conferences, but I have never had one be any more valuable than this one. The two days of in-school observation supported the practices we were taught in the training sessions. I am highly motivated — having seen it in motion and very effective.
— Sue Beth Stull, Teacher, Shawnee County Family Resource Center, Topeka, Kansas
Learn more here.
