The Fallacy of the Participation Trophy

Townhall.com ^ | August 26, 2015 | Allen West

[Servant of the Cross]

That was Lt. Colonel Allen West from the article. I meant to include quotes as well.

[originalbuckeye]

I was a team mom to nearly every football, soccer, basketball and baseball team that my son was on. When he was 11, I was a team mom to his Pony baseball team. It was about 50/50 wins and losses. We weren't in the mix for a trophy. One of the player's moms asked if we were going to be getting participation trophies to be awarded at the team party. I told her I hadn't considered doing so, but I would put it up to a vote among the parents if she wanted. Honestly, I thought the parents on this particular team were smarter than to think 11-12 year old boys needed participation trophies. The parents voted to get the meaningless trophies. It was California, so I guess I should have been able to predict the outcome of the vote. My son was taught ‘work hard, achieve, get rewarded’. He also learned that, sometimes, when you work hard, you still cannot achieve the highest level and do not get rewarded with anything but the knowledge that you did your best. Long ago he wanted to be a ‘national athlete’. I told him ‘if you have the talent for any sport, you will succeed in your ambition’. He is not a national athlete, but has excelled at his career and is a good person. Getting rewarded when you haven't achieved has gotten this country to the place it is in now. Just look at the ‘CIC’.

[altura]

Just gotta say, go a little easy. I feel sorry for your kids.

[Larry Lucido]

Can I at least have a name when I lose?

[Kaslin]

Not everyone can make first place and that includes your kids. Shame on you