New York teacher traded soap for homework

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NEW YORK, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A New York teacher was fined $4,000 for giving students free homework passes if they purchased his homemade soap.

Marlon Scanterbury, a teacher at Canarsie's Public School 66, admitted to city investigators that he told his 11- and 12-year-old students last school year they would receive 10 "keys," good behavior rewards that can be redeemed for trinkets, if they purchased one of his $3 or $4 bars of homemade soap, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

"I further informed my students that for each bar of soap purchased, in addition to 10 'keys,' the student would also receive one 'no homework pass,'" Scanterbury said in a signed statement.

The city Conflicts of Interest Board said at least three students bought single bars of soap and one student purchased three bars.

Scanterbury, who was reprimanded in 2008 for use of corporal punishment, was fined $4,000 by the board.