“Stickers, stars, and candy may get kids to sit still—but at what cost? The real question isn’t whether rewards work. It’s what they’re silently teaching.”

🧨 Controversy Setup

For decades, classrooms have run on a simple formula: Do what I want → Get a reward.

It’s classic behaviorism, straight from B.F. Skinner’s playbook—treat learning like training a pet.

But critics argue that when we rely on external rewards, we don’t raise thinkers—we raise approval seekers.

So… are we raising lifelong learners—or well-behaved robots?

🧠 Educational Pivot — Introducing the Research

This is where Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan) flips the conversation.

According to decades of research:

> External rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation.

The more you “pay” kids to learn—whether with candy or praise—the less they want to learn on their own.

What kids actually need aren’t rewards—they need:

Autonomy → “I have a say.”

Competence → “I can do this.”

Relatedness → Someone cares about my effort.

Rewards control. These three empower.