Maurie Abraham - Workshops at NZ ERN Conference
As Principal of Opotiki College Maurie Abraham faces one of the most challenging demographics in New Zealand. At Decile 1, (meaning families have the lowest incomes in the country) with an 80% Maori role, behavior and study habits of students are severely hampered by the poverty and marginalisation they experience from the first year of their lives.
Maurie spent 10 years as Deputy Principal at Opotiki College (before he became Principal) designing and
overseeing more and more punitive systems in response to student
misbehaviour. In his own words, "I was proud of my work".
In his last 9 years as Principal, he has spent his time dismantling those same systems and
replacing them with those based on restorative practice principles. Such
principles now permeate everything that staff do at Opotiki College. As a result, the school has had no stand-downs since 2006.
Maurie says, "Students still misbehave, in some cases seriously, but our culture of
respect and inclusion makes the management of this less stressful. As
well, student retention and achievement of qualifications have continued
on a strongly upward trajectory. I am more proud of this work!"
Maurie is a highly professional and commendable communicator on the subject of Restorative Practice in schools.
Opotiki College and his leadership of the school in the work of Restorative Justice practice are known throughout New Zealand. We are very privileged to have him coming to our NZ ERN Conference to teach us what he has learned.
Click here for all details on the NZ ERN Conference.
