The purpose of this study is to explore the intrinsic meaning of the activity experience of restorative circle keepers. It aims to explore the experiences of the restorative circle keepers in connecting the parties to meet and communicate in person in...
The purpose of this study is to explore the intrinsic meaning of the activity experience of restorative circle keepers. It aims to explore the experiences of the restorative circle keepers in connecting the parties to meet and communicate in person in the event of school violence. As the research problem, the first is to study the experience as the restorative circle keeper, and the second is to study the meaning of the continued participation experience of the restorative circle keeper.
In this study, the participants were 5 restorative circle keepers currently active in the field, and data was collected through in-depth interviews. This study was conducted by phenomenological research method among qualitative research methods, and the data was analyzed using the method by Colaizzi (1978). By comparing and analyzing these statements, 20 semantic units were grouped to extract 9 subtopics and 4 upper topics.
The experience structure of the study participants was ‘the start of restorative circle,’ ‘the gap between the ideal and reality of restorative circle,’ ‘the desire as the restorative circle keeper,’ and ‘the driving force to sustain as the restorative circle keeper.’ As the composition element, first, it started with
a restorative circle by an unfamiliar way of sitting in a circle and trying to have a conversation, which is different from the conventional way, with curiosity and half-hearted expectations. Second, it was the gap between the ideals and reality of the restorative circle. During the restorative circle, it was difficult to continue the process, training, and education as an activist due to the disappointment and discomfort coming from the relationship between personal capabilities and colleagues. Third, it was the desire as a restorative circle keeper. There was a desire for the participation of restorative circle keepers in various activities and the establishment of the circle from everyday life to culture, expanding to the smooth network formation of restorative circle keepers. Fourth, it was the driving force behind sustaining as the restorative circle keeper. The restorative circle keepers suffered realistic difficulties, but they discovered their inner self in the difficult process, experienced a sense of mission and introspection as keepers, and experienced a change in perception toward others as a restorative circle keeper. In the results of these studies, restorative circle keepers were able to face the inner aspects of themselves that they did not want to reveal, and they began to learn about the changes in their perception of others. As practical experience accumulated, it became an opportunity to discover the ‘self’ that they wanted to grow, and their slowly growing and changing discovery was also the driving force behind the continuation of the restorative circle. Although there is a general lack of public awareness as a practical area of civil society, the restorative circle keeper conducting the restorative circle for the prevention and solution of school violence is considered to be a positive study for the solidarity of the public sphere and civil society.
Key words: Restorative justice, restorative circle, restorative circle keepers, school violence, phenomenological study