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Transforming Harm in the Classroom: Abolitionist Pedagogy in Practice

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Conventional discipline often relies on exclusion, punishment, or silence when conflict or harm arises. Transforming Harm in the Classroom reimagines these moments through an abolitionist lens—where rupture, repair, and collective accountability replace carceral logic or “cancel culture.” Rather than automatically removing students, scapegoating individuals, or ignoring harmful behaviors, participants in this workshop explore how to hold complexity, center collective well-being, and cultivate spaces where harm can be acknowledged and redressed in community.

Conventional discipline often relies on exclusion, punishment, or silence when conflict or harm arises. Transforming Harm in the Classroom reimagines these moments through an abolitionist lens—where rupture, repair, and collective accountability replace carceral logic or “cancel culture.” Rather than automatically removing students, scapegoating individuals, or ignoring harmful behaviors, participants in this workshop explore how to hold complexity, center collective well-being, and cultivate spaces where harm can be acknowledged and redressed in community.

Key Focus Areas

  1. Abolitionist Frameworks

    • Examine the core principles of abolitionist pedagogy, seeing harm as an opportunity for shared accountability, growth, and radical care.

  2. Interrupting Carceral Mindsets

    • Identify how punitive approaches and “cancel culture” can isolate or shame, rather than support meaningful transformation.

  3. Community-Based Repair & Healing

    • Learn practical methods—such as circle processes, mediated dialogues, and reflective agreements—that foster transparent communication and inclusive resolution.

Who Should Attend

  • K–12 & Higher Ed Instructors
    Seeking alternatives to suspension, expulsion, or zero-tolerance rules when addressing conflict in classrooms.

  • Youth Program Directors & Community Educators
    Interested in nurturing safe, collaborative spaces where harm can be discussed, repaired, and learned from—without defaulting to punishment.

  • School Counselors & Administrators
    Committed to shifting away from carceral logics (both formal and informal) in disciplinary policies and everyday practice.

  • Activists & Organizers
    Aiming to integrate abolitionist principles into the ways they facilitate group processes, address conflict, and hold each other accountable.

Learning Objectives

  1. Recognize Carceral Norms in Education

    • Discover how rigid discipline measures, zero-tolerance rules, and “canceling” mimic punitive systems and can stifle collective growth.

  2. Practice Abolitionist Approaches

    • Explore strategies for addressing harm—like peer accountability circles, restorative justice dialogues, or collaborative problem-solving—that honor everyone’s dignity.

  3. Strengthen Communal Resilience

    • Develop routines and institutional supports (e.g., mutual aid networks, conflict resolution teams, reflective curricula) that transform harm into teachable moments of community healing.

Why It Matters

Carceral logic—including punishment, removal, and silence—often perpetuates cycles of harm while sidestepping root causes. Abolitionist pedagogy asserts that true healing and justice emerge when communities face conflict head-on, acknowledge the complexities of harm, and cultivate shared responsibility for safety and repair. By transforming how we respond to hurtful behaviors, educators and youth leaders can help students practice empathy, accountability, and the possibility of growth—even through significant ruptures.

Is This Workshop for You?

  • Frustrated by disciplinary measures that isolate learners or escalate conflict?
    We’ll explore how to shift from reactive punishment to proactive, community-rooted strategies for repair.

  • Noticing that “cancel culture” dynamics can stop meaningful dialogue and hamper learning?
    Learn tools that hold individuals accountable while supporting deeper understanding and collective transformation.

  • Hoping to replace the fear of punitive outcomes with a culture of honesty, vulnerability, and repair?
    We’ll delve into circle processes, peer mediation, and democratic agreements that honor each voice and perspective.

  • Looking to align your classroom or program with broader abolitionist movements?
    Discover ways to integrate anti-carceral principles into daily teaching, policy reform, and organizational culture.

If these questions resonate, Transforming Harm in the Classroom: Abolitionist Pedagogy in Practice offers the conceptual grounding and actionable steps to make learning spaces more just, humane, and responsive to the real complexities of human relationships.