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November 15, 2023

Loyola's Circle of 10 Takes a Stand: Fighting for Restorative Practices in Maryland Schools

By Gianna Sansonetti

David Hornbeck, founder of Restorative Schools Maryland, paid a visit to the Center for Community, Service, and Justice (CCSJ) on Nov. 6, where he met with Loyola’s circle of 10. Circles of 10 are small advocacy groups throughout Maryland who write monthly letters to the state general assembly urging them to pass legislation to implement restorative practices in public schools. Hornbeck, a veteran in the field with over 57 years of experience in education, discussed what restorative practices are, what issues in schools the practices address, and why he believes they are necessary. 

September 11, 2023

Restorative Practice in Action

By Dan Rodricks

Before classes commence each day at Hampstead Hill Academy, the pre-K-through-8 public charter school across from Patterson Park in Baltimore, all student cellphones go into locked pouches. Six hours and 45 minutes later, at the end of the school day, students hold the pouches against a special magnet, the pouches open, and the kids have their phones again.

May 19, 2023

Maryland Schools are Teaching Kids to Talk Through Conflict. Does it Work?

By Hallie Miller

While restorative practices have demonstrated some success, the method has been criticized as difficult to implement and soft on kids

The fight between the two Baltimore fourth graders — a boy and a girl — started with a crude text message the boy sent about the girl’s parents. Before long, the spat escalated into homeroom, with the girl saying the boy lived with bedbugs and cockroaches.

February 15, 2023

Opinion | American Teens are Unwell because American Society is Unwell

By Kate Woodsom

Kids are unwell. Worse than ever recorded, according to two new reports tracing depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in teens. There is a frantic search for ways to stop kids from hurting. But if we want to make any lasting difference, it is us, the adults, who need an intervention.

Solutions start with compassionate, radical honesty: American kids are unwell because American society is unwell. The systems and social media making teenagers sad, angry and afraid today were shaped in part by adults who grew up sad, angry and afraid themselves.