Quote:I agree, beauty contest are horrible for all but the winner.

 

You really don't see the similarities? I get the whole structure of sports, and the positive reinforcement (I'm not blind), but you can't build someone up without tearing someone else down. There is always a reaction to every action. So some Mommy's want there child to get a participation trophy ... so what? ... How does that ruin the "Working Hard" motto? ... Well, your reaction to the action of giving a participation trophy is exactly what it is. A one sided view ... otherwise there would be no problem for giving participation trophies. They don't change anything.

 

Or do they? The resentment for them says they do.

 

I disagree, the child that loses, or doesn't get the trophy, or whatever accolade we're talking about isn't being torn down, he/she is being taught an important lesson, a lesson that for some kids this is one of the very few opportunities they have a chance to learn.

 

Look my son for example is probably one of the slowest kids on our team, he's by no means an MVP or star player and he knows it. About mid season he came to me and said "Dad I want to quit I don't like this anymore" I asked him why, and told him if he had a good reason I'd let him quit. He told me he didn't like it because the other kids where faster and stronger then him. I told him "Son I don't care if you lose every game, I don't care if you're the worse player in the history of football, I don't care if EVERY play you get knocked down, so long as you get back up and try you're hardest the next play. I'll never be mad because you failed or did bad, I'll always be proud so long as you got up and give it your everything". 

 

At the end of the season they'll all probably get participation trophies, that's fine it doesn't bother me that bad, but I get what some are trying to say. Teaching these kids how to lose and persevere is equally apart of teaching them how to feel good about their accomplishments.

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