The Key Consulting Firm

During a training with preservice teachers, someone asked me, “Can punishment be neutral?” And I lit up. Questions like that are my favorite because they get right to the heart of how we understand behavior—and how a behavioral approach can help us rethink how we respond to students.

I asked her to explain a bit more, and what she meant was this: if a response is intended to be a punisher but has no actual effect on behavior, is it then a neutral punishment? She was wondering if punishment has to be positive or negative, or if there’s an in-between.

What her question really captured for me is how, as educators, we often decide something is a punisher not because of its impact on behavior, but because we think it’s punishment. That’s where things get tricky, when we start talking about consequences, it doesn’t always line up with our prior understanding of what punishment means. And when we add “positive” and “negative” into the mix, it gets even more complicated. It’s a reminder that what matters most isn’t our intention...it’s the behavior’s response.

This is exactly why I feel so strongly about the role of behavior analysis in schools.
So, what do you think—can punishment ever be neutral?

It’s been a while since I’ve been as engaged here as I used to be. In 2019, I started my doctoral training, and social media had to take a bit of a back seat. I’ve missed the incredible community we had here, and I’d love to reconnect with you all. The Key has always been about justice in schools and the mission we share. I’d love to hear from you—what have you been working on over these years? What have I missed that you’re proud of?

I have been yelling from the mountaintop about the discipline gap, which may be how you found this page. But I have also been raising my voice about the occupational experiences of teachers. This Thursday, April 25th, I will discuss my recent research that examines the connection between teacher wellbeing and the school discipline crisis with APBA.

https://behaviorlive.com/events/2024-dei-series-tba-month-templatecopy15281660-16cb-4601-9b7a-45230d8be49b

Join me at Bowie State University on Saturday, April 6, 2024, for a 3-hour workshop on school-based consultation. The workshop is sponsored by the Maryland School Psychologists' Association, and registration is free.https://forms.office.com/r/F1jx72F7QY

Feeling inspired and invigorated after NASP 2024 in New Orleans. My heart and mind are full of new ideas and connections, ready to bring that energy into APBA next. Let’s continue to grow, learn, and inspire each other. Stay tuned for updates on my 2 presentations.