ASSIGNMENT PAGE

Forgiveness and reconciliation are not cheap, they are costly. Forgiveness is not to condone or minimize the awfulness of an atrocity or wrong. It is to recognize its ghastliness but to choose to acknowledge the essential humanity of the perpetrator and to give that perpetrator the possibility of making a new beginning. Forgiveness is an act of much hope and not despair. It is to hope in the essential goodness of people and to have faith in their potential to change. It is to bet on that possibility. Forgiveness, is not opposed to justice, especially if it is not punitive justice, but restorative justice, justice that does not seek primarily to punish the perpetrator, to hit out, but looks to heal a breach, to restore a social equilibrium that the atrocity or misdeed has disturbed. Ultimately there is no future without forgiveness.'

                               ~ Desmond Tutu: September 11, 2001

The assignments for this project are found On the table below. Along with these assignments our students will be reading the novel, "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. The material in this book will provide additional background on the topic of alternative justice.

In "Touching Spirit Bear", author Ben Mikaelsen, paints a vivid picture of a violent teen and the power that pain has to destroy or heal. Alternative forms of sentencing gives the reader a first hand view of justice circles. The following links connect to resources that can be used as part of a novel study on "Touching Spirit Bear". Click on the "paws" below:

VOCABULARY BUILDING ACTIVITY

UNIT OF STUDY

NOVEL SCAVENGER HUNT

Created by:

Trudy Campbell and Brenda Dyck

Master's Academy and College

Calgary, Alberta, Canada