EP 139: Why Punishments From 1846 Still Don’t Work Today

Dr Olivia Kessel welcomes back co-authors Georgina Benger and Karen Price to discuss restorative justice as a compassionate, relationship-based approach that helps children understand the impact of their actions and repair harm.

• Georgina's research at Cambridge University revealed schools still use the same punishment methods from 1846 despite their ineffectiveness
• Traditional punishments fail to teach accountability and create patterns where children accept consequences without understanding impact
• Restorative justice shifts focus from punishment to repairing relationships through a seven-step process
• Creating a safe space, active listening, and acknowledging emotions are foundational steps in restorative practice
• The approach encourages children to explore the impact of their actions and take accountability without forced apologies
• Particularly beneficial for neurodivergent children who often experience disproportionate punishment in traditional systems
• Implementing restorative practices in schools requires time initially but becomes embedded in culture and ultimately saves time
• Children learn to resolve conflicts independently when these practices are consistently modeled
• The core principles include prioritizing relationships, focusing on learning rather than labeling, and recognizing that healing should involve everyone

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