Councilmember Cohen joins Students, Parents and Teachers to Demand Restorative Practices in Every City School to Address Recent Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Contact:
zeke.cohen@baltimorecity.gov
Today at 530PM in front of Baltimore City Hall, Councilmember Zeke Cohen will join the Parent Community Advisory Board, The Baltimore Teachers Union, The Healing Youth Alliance, Baltimore City School Board member Durryle Brooks, The Peace Team, the ‘We Our Us’ Movement and members of the Baltimore City Trauma-Informed Care Taskforce to address violence in schools. At the next City Council meeting, Cohen will introduce a resolution formally calling on Baltimore City Schools Public Schools to implement restorative practices, and conflict resolution in every school.
The group’s demand for action comes after the tragic murder of a student at Mergenthaler Vocational Techical High School by a student from a different high school. Last year there were multiple incidents of violence and weapons found within City Schools.
Restorative practices is an evidenced based approach to teaching young people conflict resolution, mediation and accountability. A 2018 study conducted by a researcher at Johns Hopkins University found that restorative practices in 15 City Schools led to a significant improvement in school climate and a major reduction in suspensions. The study recommended district wide implementation in all schools, for all school staff, by 2022. Currently, less than a third of City schools have received school-wide training.
“The violence facing our children is urgent and heartbreaking. Our schools are a reflection of the mental health crisis facing our communities. We must immediately teach conflict resolution, Restorative Justice and other proven practices to support our kids. The time for action is now,” says Councilmember Cohen.
Councilmember Cohen will be available today. To schedule an interview, please email zeke.cohen@baltimorecity.gov or call (413) 320-9228.
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Who: Councilmember Cohen, School Board Member Durryle Brooks, BTU President Diamonte Brown, BTU leadership and membership, PCAB leadership, The Healing Youth Alliance, The Peace Team, the ‘We Our Us’ movement, Baltimore City Trauma Informed Care Task Force members
Where: City Hall (outside of main entrance)
When: Tuesday, September 6th at 5:30pm
What: Councilmember Cohen together with BTU, PCAB and local groups call for an immediate plan to bring research-backed de-escalation methods and conflict resolution to all schools
