Riverstone Village has a problem-solving rather than person-blaming approach to discipline. Like all other decisions, discipline decisions are made by age-mixed groups not ‘authority figures’. Rules can be reviewed and changed and replaced by Meeting.
Rather than a culture of equality, where all people are treated the same, RsV aims for a culture of equity, where each person is supported according to who they are and what they need in a particular context, with an ultimate aim of liberation for all. Sometimes it’s about insisting on respect for the Agreements that the community has made together, sometimes it is about supporting people in finding win-win ways to keep the Agreements, sometimes it is about creating accommodations or exceptions, and sometimes it is about actually changing the Agreements. Systems are for people, not people for systems.
We treasure the diversity of our community. Prejudice and unconscious privilege are called out in a problem-solving spirit so that we can all grow together. Please do help us notice remaining blind-spots, there is always more to learn.
Discipline supports a person in solving a problem, punishment makes them suffer for having the problem. (paraphrased)
L.R.Knost
If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.
Lilla Watson