by Karen Collins

Created on: July 20, 2008

Competition is everywhere in our lives, from trying to win a lottery to taking part in a bid for promotion. Children in school are on the first step of their journey towards adulthood and in this very cut throat society that we all live in; it would be unfair not to prepare children. My son is ten years old and goes to a school which has banned competition within school. I do feel however that this is a short sighted action on their part and I have watched my son find it hard to take part in games with children that are not of his school. In his school there are no losers they are all winners, this is not only unnatural and giving him a false perception of the world, he can't play without tantruming if he loses. I try to explain to him that there has to be a winner and a loser and it's the taking part that's the fun and important part; however the school then teaches him that they all win. Not only does this confuse the children they then go onto high schools which are competitive and that step forward to adulthood is already confusing.

When I was at school competition was as natural as doing maths and English classes. We were all in house teams, and at the end of each term the house that had the most points won the school cup. This was a productive competitive activity as all children no matter what their capabilities had the chance to gain points for their house. You could get points from sporting activities or just the fact that you produced a good essay. This competition involved everyone without making anyone feel inferior. It also did not single out only the best sports person or the best writer, as all houses had a varied mixture of talents.

Competition within schools can be negative or positive experience and a lot of this is down to the teachers within the school. To have competition that causes a student to feel inferior is a negative thing, it can cause misery and make the student under achieve. It can also make students that are naturally competitive produce a cruel streak and bullying the students that are not competitive. It is a fine line and needs sensitive handling by the teachers. Competition is necessary and should be in the schools but only if it is fair and does not make any student dread to go to school. In this world we have sportsmen and women, artists, actors, musicians , scientist to IT people. There are people who are ambitious and there are people who are just happy to plod on, this is the real world that children are going to become adults and they will become ne of those groups. There is nothing wrong with a person that pursues a career and jump up the ladder of promotion, it is what drives them. On the other hand there is nothing wrong with a person that is content to work in a job at the same level till they retire; it is a person's choice. That is why competition within schools has to be carefully placed so it becomes a positive experience for all concerned.

Learn more about this author, Karen Collins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.