Teaching Strategies -- T for Tat

Mathematically, the best strategy tends to be this: Start out nice, then exchange t for tat -- subject to forgiveness. Or a smiley face. :)

https://plus.maths.org/content/mathematical-mysteries-survival-nicest

Not so good is to give out participation trophies or to pass out rewards for nothing. Watch The Miracle Worker sometime, about Helen Keller.

This is basic. But it seems to have escaped most teachers and profs. Have they been educated into stupidity? Given the damage they have done to the society at large, I don't see the point in trying to put it more politely. They have earned far, far worse.