Why is this done to kids? Because for some children to be seen as winners, some others need to lose - and education is designed to be exclusionary: a gigantic sorting-hat to decides who gets to do the really good programs in universities, who gets the not so good ones, who goes to vocational schools, and who is left out.
My dyspraxic and fatigue prone son was last by quite a margin at his small school’s dooathlon. I found the day such an ordeal. I hope he doesn’t come to remember these events with shame. I don’t know why a massively challenging sporting race is the standard for all kids, even one who can’t ride a bike (but had 2 helpers to painfully slowly go round the open field w training wheels)
Competition is so ingrained in schools even without the points and lederboatds. What is a humane response? Should parents speak up and what alternatives to petition for?
But of course I’m to blame. For his lack of ball skills and growing phobia of “trying” games with an element of performance, I was accosted by the principal (who had been taking them for PE) and told “he revealed he doesn’t have a ball at home”
Whatever he tried to say (she is not particularly skilled at deciphering his speech) this is not at all true, we have balls and games at home. Which he used to like just fine.
It’s like I’ve never taken him off the couch in their eyes. In truth I’ve taken him to toddler gymnasium and dance and occupational therapy and swimming lessons, had him a completely outdoors nursery school with daily hikes, and other early education settings with games for years. This is just not an area he’s ever been competitive in. And now that other kids are faster and more adroit it’s visible to him too. But I’m to blame of course. Probably for my own lack of fitness.
Why is this done to kids? Because for some children to be seen as winners, some others need to lose - and education is designed to be exclusionary: a gigantic sorting-hat to decides who gets to do the really good programs in universities, who gets the not so good ones, who goes to vocational schools, and who is left out.
This is terrible!!! Shocking actually 😲 Where is this happening? Thankfully not at my children's schools 🙏
My dyspraxic and fatigue prone son was last by quite a margin at his small school’s dooathlon. I found the day such an ordeal. I hope he doesn’t come to remember these events with shame. I don’t know why a massively challenging sporting race is the standard for all kids, even one who can’t ride a bike (but had 2 helpers to painfully slowly go round the open field w training wheels)
Competition is so ingrained in schools even without the points and lederboatds. What is a humane response? Should parents speak up and what alternatives to petition for?
But of course I’m to blame. For his lack of ball skills and growing phobia of “trying” games with an element of performance, I was accosted by the principal (who had been taking them for PE) and told “he revealed he doesn’t have a ball at home”
Whatever he tried to say (she is not particularly skilled at deciphering his speech) this is not at all true, we have balls and games at home. Which he used to like just fine.
It’s like I’ve never taken him off the couch in their eyes. In truth I’ve taken him to toddler gymnasium and dance and occupational therapy and swimming lessons, had him a completely outdoors nursery school with daily hikes, and other early education settings with games for years. This is just not an area he’s ever been competitive in. And now that other kids are faster and more adroit it’s visible to him too. But I’m to blame of course. Probably for my own lack of fitness.