This has got to be one of the most ridiculous quotes I have read in years:
“We don’t want kids to compete individually, put themselves in vulnerable positions as individuals,” explains a leading administrator. “They can compete within teams,” explains another. “So the focus is on community building rather than on personal value.”
You’ve got to be f’ing kidding me.
This comes from an opinion piece in 11/28′s Wall Street Journal called In Praise of ‘Thought Competition’ by Rebecca Wallace-Segall. There’s an excerpt here, but the full article is only available to WSJ subscribers.
Wallace-Segall runs after-school creative writing programs to support kids whose schools have deemed ‘thought competition’ a dangerous thing. While schools willingly support team competition, writing, math, and other individual academic contests are being shunned, sometimes prohibited.
I’m so very tired of this whole self-esteem movement. It’s backfiring. Every child now expects a prize, a certificate of participation, or some sort of praise indicating that they are no better or worse than any other child. How does this further self-esteem? How does this help a child figure out what they are good at? Or get better at something they aren’t good at? Or process disappointment?
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I read this article yesterday. The exact same quote struck me too. Un-freaking-believable. I also like the part about the jocks being able to compete, but the academics being denied the opportunity to do academic bowls.
I am so over the self-esteem thing.
It’s like the school is run by the Borg collective…
I read about several schools doing away with spelling bees a few years ago for the same reason. Reminds me of Harrison Bergeron. And to quote Dash Incredible, saying everyone is special is just another way of saying that no one is.
Incredible, isn’t it? My first grader got his first report card this week, and at least at his school, apparently, they don’t even have grades anymore. I’m not kidding. So I asked my husband, WHAT exactly is this supposed to tell us about how he’s doing and what he needs help with?
My husband said grades are probably politically incorrect.
What is wrong with everybody????
That is ridiculous. I don’t get where they get their ideas about self-esteem, anyway. You gain confidence by taking on challenges, not having every struggle ironed out for you in advance. And really, where is self-esteem where there is nothing but the collective?
Thank you much for excerpting my Wall Street Journal piece on your blog. If you get a chance, please correct the spelling of my name to Rebecca Wallace-Segall. Thank you! ~~Rebecca
I agree w/ all the sentiments argued here. To Mommywithattitude’s comment – some teachers are also not allowed to tell a child their answer is incorrect when it clearly is. Presumably this movement is supposed to foster the well-being of children and ensure that they are well-adjusted and feel accepted.
Why must all children feel that they are academic equals? Does this place any value on education at all? Would everyone be happy with a country filled with an equally submediocre student body and future workforce? What are they actually learning? How can they possibly pass “standardized” tests? Does speak at all to the fact that the US is (and has) dramatically declined in the educational arena? Does speak at all to the fact that only 30% of college students can write a cohesive 5-page summary of a 15 page document that makes any sense at all? What happens to the “well-adjusted” child when the enter the workforce and find out that they are not actually prepared…or well-adjusted? Did I miss the memo stating that it is now the schools responsibility to raise well-adjusted children and no longer the parents? Does one more person really need to state how absurd this is???
Wow! What are they doing to those poor kids? Yes, I am glad I homeschool. My kids will grow up with a good work ethic, good morals and not need a ribbon to know they are smart, creative, intelligent, and beautiful individuals. Thank you for sharing the information. It helps re-enforce my convictions!
I wann acorrect Shauna above there – it was Syndrome (the bad guy) who said that, not Dash. :D “And when eveyone’s special.. no one will be…” *evil chuckle*
Actually, Syndrome said that when everyone is Super then no one will be, but I’m referring to the conversation Dash had in the car with his mother.
Helen: Everyone’s special, Dash.
Dash: Which is another way of saying no one is.
I agree w/ all the sentiments argued here. To MommywithattitudeâÂÂs comment – some teachers are also not allowed to tell a child their answer is incorrect when it clearly is. Presumably this movement is supposed to foster the well-being of children and ensure that they are well-adjusted and feel accepted.
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