In this episode of If I Were the Minister for Education, I explore how behaviour support in Irish primary schools has shifted from corporal punishment to rewards and consequences, and now toward restorative practice, nurture spaces, and Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS). I’m joined by Dr. Ross Greene, founder of Lives in the Balance and author of The Explosive Child, Lost at School, and The Kids Who Aren’t OK, and by Ruth Edie, principal in Dublin 18 and a certified CPS trainer. We discuss CPS’s focus on solving the unsolved problems behind concerning behaviour through proactive, collaborative Plan B conversations, including the ASEP process and practical “drilling” strategies. We also compare CPS with restorative practice, address concerns about time and “letting kids off,” and share resources (livesinthebalance.org/ireland). I dedicate the episode to my late deputy principal Emer and HSE psychologist Toby.00:00 Welcome and Overview00:39 Behavior Shifts in Schools01:59 Discovering CPS03:10 Dedication and Intro03:48 Meet Ross and Ruth05:18 Ross Green Background06:26 Ruth Eadie Journey10:05 What Is CPS13:14 ASEP and Unsolved Problems15:06 Plan B Conversation19:47 Drilling Strategies21:09 When CPS Starts22:49 Handling I Don’t Know24:33 Ireland Context Setup25:17 Piloting CPS in Ireland25:50 Tribute to Toby and Emer27:12 Restorative Practice vs CPS29:16 What CPS Adds for Teachers30:18 Finding Time for CPS32:48 Common Pushback and Myths35:56 Where to Learn CPS38:05 Minister for a Day41:48 Final Resources and Farewell This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

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