I was thinking about this some more. I have no problem with the idea of an ex-gang-member, ex-addict, someone who committed drunken vehicular homicide or whatever choosing to make presentations to schools about how he or she got into such bad ways and why he or she regrets them. And if the 12yo had been helped to some comprehension of the problems in a climate of bullying, and had agreed to participate in some consciousness-raising activity as a way of making restitution, that might fit similarly. I still don't think parading with a sign would be the best choice of consciousness-raising activity - I'm thinking more like participating in the next round of peacemaker workshops - but still.

Perhaps the newspaper article's use of the words "forced" and "humiliation" aren't fairly representing the situation in that family and that school.