Apparently, according to North Hill Elementary School in Rochester Hills, MI. – at least during an upcoming “Field Day”:
“The purpose of the day is for our school to get together for an enjoyable two hours of activities and provide an opportunity for students, teachers and parents to interact cooperatively. Since we believe that all of our students are winners, the need for athletic ability and the competitive ‘urge to win’ will be kept to a minimum. The real reward will be the enjoyment and good feelings of participation.”
The parent who posted the actual letter from the school was baffled. (click here to read more.)
My guess is the administration is responding to the “out-of-control” competition that is so prevalent in our day. Their response is often repeated as rules for less “competition” are passed and posted around the country.
While I appreciate what I imagine is the concern of the school adminstration, I don’t like their solution. The proper response to broken competition is not to eliminate it. It is to redeem it. Why? Because part of the “enjoyment and good feelings” they are striving for is found in the competition. Any person who is honest will tell you that – regardless of their skill level.
However, before we too harshly criticize this administration, let me ask “How would you address this school administration if you were one of the parents affected?”
At CSO, we don’t just want to “curse the darkness” in our efforts. While this is one more example of the brokenness of sports and competition and the lack of real solutions in so many of our responses to this brokenness, it is understandable without a true understanding of the nature of sports and competition, the corruption of the day, and ways to redeem sports and competition. That is why we put together tools to provide such an understand. We want to attempt to “give some light.”
For more on redeeming sports and competition, check out For the Love of the Game in our store.
