The purpose of High School competitions
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
March 22, 2010 12:29pm CST
We live in the smaller less occupied part of our state, it's also some of the poorest. But our High Schools scrape and work very hard to go to the richer more populated part of the state to compete in sports and bands. This is a very great honor to just go to these competitions. There is the feeling here that the judging is not fair and that the richer schools are favored. This was a discussion we were havign last night. Hubby felt that we should just not go if there was no chance of winning but I felt that if the point of having school competitions is to help the kids learn about life the effort to go must still be made. I think Kids learn more from going and being a participant even if the judging is not fair as long as the adults can show them that winning is not the goal, doing a good job and having fun
is what is important. After all how often do we really win in life? If we feel we can't win then should we just give up and not participate? I don't feel this is what life is all about. How do you feel?
3 people like this
10 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
24 Mar 10
I agree with the way you see it Pat because it is not about winning; there cannot always be all winners. I am teaching my child that doing your best at anything is what is important and, once you know you’ve given your all to something you already are a winner. It is not right that the favourite richer schools win all the time but I don’t think the other schools should stop attending; as I said it is not just about winning!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
23 Mar 10
I have just finished working as event staff at the class 4A basketball playoffs in my state. I think it is awesome for the kids to get to go, and to participate. I felt sorry for the schools that did not have the funds to send cheerleaders and bands with the basketball players. I saw a lot of pride and a lot of fun. I would not join "Pep Club" when I was in school because it required a lot of money, and a lot of time and they were snobbish. These eight schools all had pep sections or cheer sections, they had a lot of fun, they did not have coordinating uniforms for the pep club and they really really supported their players. That is more what life is about. We do not all have money, and funds, but we all have something to contribute, and something to say.
1 person likes this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
22 Mar 10
Hi, Pat!
I totally agree with you, but I see that attitude far too often, that if we're not going to win, we shouldn't bother. It's a very sad comment on society!
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 Mar 10
Winning or losing is not important in any competitions. It is the spirit of participation that matters most. Of course winning is good but losing might be better off as it motivates the kids to work harder for future competitions. It is unfortunate that some people choose not to judge a competition professionally. It is defeating the purpose of holding a competition to chose the outstanding one.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
22 Mar 10
I feel the same way you do. Children have to learn to deal with failure and also learn perseverance. Competition is a character building tool.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I don't know about giving it up. I think that there are more people than the judges that realize where the talent really was. It is easy to tell when these things are judged unfairly and the audience knows who the best was anyway.The kids know too and even though they may not win, it gives them something to look forward to and enjoy. It's not fair though. Maybe you could request some out of state judges...hmmm...a petition maybe.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
26 Mar 10
Most of the time these things are run by voluntary parents, if you rock the boat, you might be able to fix it for a while, but in my experience about four years later you are right back where you started. It also amounts to taking over the jobs, if you're not willing to do this it's very hard to get anything changed.
@lowloy (316)
• United States
22 Mar 10
students and schools should the support of the parents and community behind them. If there is no emotional support then what will happen? students quit there sports team, families stop caring and so on. I would honor my family to come and watch me play and miss a basket or slice the golf ball into the tree, this way they would see i was trying and am not giving up especially since I stayed out there and came back the next day to try again.
life is about staying with your character whatever it is and show your colors not someone else's
1 person likes this
