See below for JUFJ’s testimony on restorative justice. JUFJ volunteer leader Lisa Firnberg wrote this testimony to the Montgomery County Board of Education in support of funding for restorative justice in Montgomery County Public Schools.
Dear members of the Montgomery County Board of Education,
My name is Lisa Firnberg. I am a resident of Rockville and an MCPS parent. I am submitting this testimony on behalf of Jews United for Justice (JUFJ), which represents over 2,000 Jews and allies across the county who act on our shared Jewish values to advance social, economic, and racial justice. I would like to thank the Board of Education for its initial support of and faith in the power of Restorative Justice, and I am heartened by the data that shows the positive outcomes at MCPS restorative justice focus schools. For the FY26 Budget, JUFJ is joining Young People for Progress, Racial Justice NOW!, and student leaders in calling for full time restorative justice coaches in every middle and high school in MCPS and revising the code of conduct to integrate restorative practices.
I am a parent of a second grader at Lakewood Elementary School and a four year old future MCPS student. I see the hope and promise of our community’s future every day in my children and their classmates. I want my children to be part of a school community that values the humanity of each child, and is a partner in shaping our children to take responsibility for their actions, face meaningful (not punitive) consequences, and learn the critically important skills of forgiveness and peacemaking.
Jewish tradition teaches that the only way to atone for our interpersonal transgressions is for the wrongdoer to understand their mistake and ask forgiveness of the wronged. When our children are young, we instinctively teach them that their unkind words and actions have immediate consequences on the person they have hurt, and we help them to face the person they have wronged and apologize. Likewise, we guide our children to forgive those that have harmed them. While childhood pushing, name-calling or taking of toys is not meant to belittle more serious adolescent misconduct, the moral fabric of our teaching and emotional guidance should remain the same. Children – whether aged 7, 12 or 17 – are shaped by the way the adults – and adult-led systems – in their lives treat them. The systems and structures of our public schools should model the principles of being truly accountable for one’s actions, and seeking to make whole what has been broken.
There is plenty of widely available evidence to support the intuitive notion that as a culture shifting practice, restorative justice is an investment in our young people that ultimately reduces violence in our schools and in our communities. Restorative justice is still accountability for one’s wrongdoing. Restorative justice honors the needs of victims. Restorative justice keeps kids out of prison. We must nurture the pro-social emotional development we desire, not stoke the flames of resentment, anger and injustice that comes from criminalizing children.
Therefore, I urge the Board of Education to provide funding for full-time restorative justice coaches in every middle and high school and to expand the use of restorative practices across MCPS.
