The legendary statistical consultant W. Edwards Deming, . . . has called the system by which merit is appraised and rewarded 'the most powerful inhibitor to quality and productivity in the Western world' . . . it is simply unfair to the extent that employees are held responsible for what are, in reality, systemic factors that are beyond their control.

How can we do our best when we are spending our energies trying to make others lose - and fearing that they will make us lose?

Most of us would protest that of course we love our children without any strings attached. But what counts is how things look from the perspective of the children

Punishments erode relationships and moral growth.

Very few things are as dangerous as a bunch of incentive-driven individuals trying to play it safe.

In education, parody is obsolete.

We can't value only what is easy to measure; measurable outcomes may be the least important results of learning.