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Vladimir_Nesov comments on Dissenting Views - Less Wrong
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An example of dark arts used for a good cause. The problem is that the children weren't strong enough to understand the concept of being potentially better at math, of it being true that enthusiasm will improve their results.
They can't feel the truth of the complicated fact of [improving in the future if they work towards it], and so you deceive them into thinking that they are [good already], a simpler alternative.
Vladimir, the problem has nothing to do with strength--some of these students did very well in other classes. Nor is it about effort--some students had already given up and weren't bothering, others were trying futilely for hours a night. Even closing the initial inferential gap that caused them to fall behind (see my reply to Daniel_Burfoot above) didn't solve the problem.
The problem was simply that they believed "math" was impossible for them. The best way to get rid of that belief--maybe the only effective way--was to give them the experience of succeeding at math. A pep talk or verbal explanation of their problems wouldn't suffice.
If your definition of "the dark arts" is so general that it includes giving an easy homework assignment, especially when it's the best solution to a problem, I think you've diluted the term beyond usefulness.