Abstract
In the research which this paper is based upon, alongside a study concerning the potential means of learning about the tense and dense relationship between justice and education, we explore the normative matrices arising from public policies that have introduced Restorative Justice in schools in the City of São Paulo. This paper discusses these normative matrices using two foundational documents on Restorative Justice practices, exploring views of conflict, violence, mediation, types of cases, and expectations regarding changes in the school´s everyday life. For this purpose, eight interviews with teachers from two local schools where these projects were implemented have been carried out. In their testimonies, the lack of cases of violence is noteworthy, as well as how Restorative Justice is understood as a mechanism of conflict mediation and a way to deal with discipline at schools. All the interviewees mention that respect is the main purpose of this type of Justice, defined as hope for a better school environment. The goal was to understand the scope of the policies as seen by the individuals involved, as well as how much formalizing micro-justice – in the form of Restorative Justice – boosts (or not) the possibilities of considering the idea of a fair school.
Education; Restorative justice; Conflicts; Human rights