Punishment Isn’t Working

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Halfway Human, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Moreno and Dr. Lawrence Scott, authors of Advocating for Educational Change: Reimagining Student Discipline Through Restorative Practices, to challenge how we think about discipline, learning, and what students actually need to succeed.This conversation goes beyond policies and into people. We explore why traditional discipline models often fall short, how restorative practices can reshape student outcomes, and what it really means to center humanity in education. At its core, their work pushes educators and leaders to rethink systems that were never designed for every student to thrive, and instead build environments rooted in empathy, accountability, and growth.Together, we unpack the tension between structure and support, the realities educators face on the ground, and the bold changes required to move from punishment to development. Because if education is truly meant to be the great equalizer, we have to be willing to reimagine it from the inside out.If you care about the future of education, student success, or simply doing things better than we’ve always done them, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.