I like to win.
That being said, I'll expand on it and try to fill up a few paragraphs.
Competition drives me to excel, whatever the sport. I like the adrenaline rush when challenged, and strive to be better than my opponent. So, what's the matter with our society that we find the need to weed out competition in schools?
My daughter's school has the standard Track & Field days, but there are no awards for winning an event; no first, second, or thirds. Everyone gets a ribbon for competing... sort of a "Thanks for showing up and not trying award". Before you bleeding-heart, non-competitive, tree-hugging, tofu-sucking, protest-sign-humping, agenda-laden misbegotten anal polyps speak out in indignation at my stance on competition... ask yourself, "Am I opposed to this view because I never won anything and harbour jealousy for those who try to excel, or do I have an opinion that has substance and can actually prove that mediocrity is more conducive to social development?"
Those of you who think that promoting "non-effort" is a good thing, probably never competed in anything, and carried your mothers note like a shield from effort. This "everyone's a winner" garbage that the schools promote these days does nothing but dissuade kids from even making an effort to succeed in anything. Why work hard and develop a superior intellect or athletic prowess if the lazy little moron with the note from his mom (so he doesn't have to participate in any athletic activities) gets the same recognition? I never developed any respect for those guys.
I argue against this promotion of pathos when I can find someone in the school system who has any authority to even question it, but most are so apathetic that all I receive is a hollow promise they'll "look into it".
These kids will someday be leading our nation, and we tell them that "average" is perfectly acceptable... well, the few competitive ones will be leading... yours will probably be asking them, "would you like fries with that?"
I'm all for it.
All of you that promote these ideals are just making it easier for my Honour roll, highly athletic and competitive daughter to get into the University she wants to get into, get the job she wants (because your lazy, average-accepting spawn will expect to have the job handed to him/her).
Oh, and when she's your kid's boss, she'll fire them because your mediocrity-laden progeny never makes an effort, and she won't accept notes from the parents... because her father doesn't accept them either.
Pogh ma Thoin
I have to ask though...with the (well deserved) integration of special needs children into classes, or with children with severe asthma that does now allow them to participate in sports - does your rant allow them to be disqualified and informed they are "nothing" based solely upon their inability to participate in sports?
ReplyDeleteI agree, in essence, with your rant. Excelling in sports, though, does not uniquely qualify the individual as a successful human being. Talk to Stephen Hawking as an example of this.
Hmmm, never saw this response Susan...so I'll reply now.
ReplyDeleteI believe that regardless of a class' structure, there needs to be competition instilled in our youth at an early age. Be it physical or intellectual. Life isn't fair, and unless someone had financially prosperous progenitors, they will need to be competitive as soon as they apply for their first job. It may sound cruel and heartless, but this is the reality of our society... The weak lose, and the strong (be it physical or mental prowess) succeed.
I believe everyone deserves their moment in the sun, their 15 minutes of fame... but only if they strive to be their best. I consider the acceptance of mediocrity to be nothing more than death.
So Mr. Redfist... do you remember all the rapier skirmishes we shared? When there was no first place ribbon? Does this mean that all those times, you had no competitive instinct? That you learned nothing? Seriously, when did you have the most fun, and honed your best skills: In the Tourney, Or all the evenings and nights we all played for fun? I don't know about you, but I pushed more for victory against my friends (in fun), than people I don't care for(in tourney).
ReplyDeleteWhat I am saying Mr. Guidian+Paidrag is this: you have won many awards, but in all honesty, did any of them change your competitive instinct? If I miraculously eliminated all white scarves from the SCA, would you have fought any less against me?
I understand what you say, that realistically, there must be some form of rating good from bad.
But in the end, it is the individual that strives for what they want, and they do not care what others may think.