Posted on 11/28/2007 6:09:47 AM PST by shrinkermd
For decades now, psychology and pedagogy researchers have been debating the impact of competition on young people's self-esteem, with those wary of thought competition taking the lead.
"We don't want kids to compete individually, put themselves in vulnerable positions as individuals," explains a leading administrator. "They can compete within teams," explains another. "So the focus is on community building rather than on personal value."
But what about Sam's sense of personal value? Aren't human beings fabulously varied in their gifts and sensibilities? Excellent teamwork can be important, but is it the only admirable achievement? Should any school in the United States prevent broader acknowledgment of a young, creative mathematician?
Mel Levine, a professor at the University of North Carolina and one of the foremost authorities in the country on how children learn, believes the impact of the collaborative education movement has been devastating to an entire generation. When students are rewarded for participation rather than achievement, Dr. Levine suggests, they don't have a strong sense of what they are good at and what they're not. Thus older members of Generation Y might be in for quite a shock when they show up for work at their first jobs. "They expect to be immediate heroes and heroines. They expect a lot of feedback on a daily basis. They expect grade inflation, they expect to be told what a wonderful job they're doing," says Dr. Levine.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
“We don’t want kids to compete individually, put themselves in vulnerable positions as individuals,” explains a leading administrator. “They can compete within teams,” explains another. “So the focus is on community building rather than on personal value.”
Right because when you apply for a job, you do it with other team members.
The wussification of America continues.
When students are rewarded for participation rather than achievement, Dr. Levine suggests, they don’t have a strong sense of what they are good at and what they’re not.
teamwork is very important after you get the job
“When students are rewarded for participation rather than achievement, Dr. Levine suggests, they don’t have a strong sense of what they are good at and what they’re not.”
They recently began a fall soccer program in my area that competes with the one they already have in the spring...but with no scoring, just for “fun.” My son wanted to play but I won’t let him until the spring one. I know I’m probably being a fuddy duddy but the idea of playing a soccer game without keeping score is asinine. What’s he learning? He already knows how to play...but to what end?
Ah yes, the participation award, or as my child calls it, the "thanks for showing up" award.
That quote reached out of the paper and slapped me -
this educrat is a SOCIALIST, and is attempting to indoctrinate kids into the same destructive mindset.
“teamwork is very important after you get the job”
Of course it is. But that wasn’t my point. You engage in rigorous competition to secure employment. Kids growing up need to become accustomed to that sort of competition.
you need both competition and cooperation. There are conservatives who take the opposite extreme
I think the breakdown is simple: Collectivist vs Individualist.
These folks are pushing team effort rather than personal effort. These folks are pushing Collectivism. The Bolsheviks and the Nazis and the Democrats are smiling.
“you need both competition and cooperation.”
In procuring a job? Cooperation from whom?
Obviously, someone has never heard of ‘networking’. Hell, who you know and who you can ‘grease’ is often more important than your qualifications!
to succeed in life you need both. You’re not going to get a job without people skills.
Yup, yup, yup and yup.
“Obviously, someone has never heard of ‘networking’.”
Networking is a tool of competition, not cooperation with a competing job seeker.
Naaaah. I can't be bothered to learn people skills. I figure someone else in my group will have the people skills, so I'm just going to color this poster over here ...
“You’re not going to get a job without people skills.”
Yes, I know. What does that have to do with the competing factor in job searches?
Ping
when we visited Boston, we couldn’t help but notice just how many drunk and “not quite all there” college kids were hanging around.
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