"You can't teach self-discipline if the students are always looking 
for more treats, raffle tickets, and goodies from the Treasure Box."

―Harry and Rosemary Wong, The First Days of School

I made lots of mistakes that had adverse effects on students. I yelled at them. I was impatient with them. I accused them of doing things they didn't do. Fortunately, I acknowledged these and other mistakes, and apologized to students for making them.

Yet my most regrettable transgression as a teacher was something I never apologized for. In fact, had I apologized for it, many students would have thought I was crazy, since they wanted me to commit this "sin" every day, all day.

What did I do that was so shameful to me, and so wonderful to students? I gave them rewards. Candy. Pizza. Sports videos. Whatever I could afford or get my friends to donate. And when I ran out of money and giveaways, I resorted to intangibles like free time and shooting hoops with me after school.

All students had to do to earn these rewards was comply with my commands in class. And I wasn't the only one bribing them. (The principal's friends must have had deeper pockets than mine did, since her rewards included amusement park passes and bicycles.)

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