Circles of Connection

In this short epilogue, Dorothée talks about how the podcasts were produced and some of the lessons she learnt from interviewing practitioners around Ireland. References:The UBUNTU project: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/law/news/ubuntu-project-brings-young-black-adults-and-garda-together-dialogue-dublin-westConnolly, C. et al. (2022) ‘New actors and new learning spaces for new times: a framework for schooling that extends beyond the school’, Learning environments research, pp. 1–13. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-022-09432-y.

John Biggins, Lawyer, Lecturer at Maynooth University, and Academic knowledgeable on the Brehon Laws, gives some perspective to understand how restorative the ancient Celtic Legal system, the Brehon laws, were. To know more about John’s interest in the Brehon Laws: https://thebrehonlawyer.com/

Michelle Stowe, founder and director of Connect RP, a service for teachers and schools which offers training and support in co-creating relational schools communities, talks about her experience of working with schools, the obstacles and enablers of whole school implementation, how to support participants in the shift of culture RP require and the lessons she gathered from her vast experience. For more information about Connect RP: https://www.connectrp.ie/

Kate O’Neill, acting team leader for the primary health and well-being team in the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), talks about the work the PDST does to train teachers and support RP implementation in schools. For more information about PDST: https://pdst.ie/

Tom McGauley, James O’Loughlin and Ciara O’Byrne, teachers at Casltenock College in Dublin, talk about their training and journey in RP, the shift in mindset and culture that it fosters, their practices, modelling or explicitly teaching RP, the challenges they meet and what they learn from them.

Brian Fox and Becky Ryan are back in this episode. While episode 8 was focusing on the whole school implementation process, in this one, they talk about their personal journey in RP, their training, the shift in mindset and culture that it fosters, their practices, modelling or explicitly teaching RP, the challenges they meet and what they learn from them. 

Niamh Fowler, Deirdre Lavelle, teachers, and some of their 3rd class students talk about the power of the circle to build relationships.  For more information about the school: https://saintmarks.ie/

Brian Fox and Becky Ryan, teachers in St Ultan’s primary school in Dublin, talk about how RP was introduced ten years ago. They share reflections on their experience in the long run, the ups and downs of implementation, what worked, what did not work and the progressive building up of a whole school culture. For more information about the school: https://www.stultans.ie/

In this episode, Dr Ian Marder, Assistant Professor in Criminology at Maynooth University, talks about restorative and relational pedagogy and how he has embedded RP in his teaching. References:Article: Marder, I., Vaugh, T., Kenny, C., Dempsey, S., Savage, E., Weiner, R., Duffy, K. & Hughes, G. (2022) “Enabling student participation in course review and redesign: piloting restorative practices and design thinking in an undergraduate criminology programme”, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 33(4), 526-547.Video: “Restorative approaches to teaching and learning in higher education”, Irish Universities Association, Digital Education Community workshop series (9 May 2022; video here).Video: “Using circles in higher education classrooms: impact, applications, design”, Restorative Justice Pedagogy Network, training video (28 March 2022; video here; slides here).Video: “Restorative approaches to designing restorative justice assessments in higher education”, Restorative Justice Pedagogy Network, workshop (22 April 2021; video here).

In this episode, James Bowes, Restorative Practices coordinator, Jonathan Dowling, Youth Work team leader, Dean Murray, Youth worker from Belvedere Youth Club (BYC) in North East Inner City, Dublin, talk about the journey the youth club, staff and young people, have undertaken to become a restorative hub in the community. You will also hear some of the young people. For more information about BYC: https://www.belvedereyouthclub.ie/