It always amazes me when we try to use social policy to overcome human nature. Since the first caveman outran another in trying to get to that new fangled invention – fire – human beings have been competing against each other.
Competition is what has made our society one of the greatest in history. Competition has put men on the moon, has cured diseases and has led to artistic masterpieces. The reality is that human beings love competition and we thrive on it.
And yet the National Post reported this week that some schools in Alberta and BC have decided to cancel awards for individuals who excel in academics and sports.
In a twisted bit of logic the National Post reported one principal as saying their school had to get rid of the awards because they were actually holding back good students.
“Someone who would usually get that award or is a strong learner will focus on the criteria and hit the checklist to get the award instead of going further with their learning,” said George Couros, principal at Forest Green School in Stony Plain, Alta.
So rather than changing the criteria to make the awards more challenging the solution is to remove them all together? Mr Couros uses another piece of strange logic to defend his decision. At his school, instead of the awards students will now be receiving regular encouragement from their teachers. Shouldn’t teachers have been doing that for the last 100 years or so?
It is not just at the elementary or high school level that this logic prevails. Multiple academic papers can be found on the internet espousing allowing students to grade themselves and each other. Some of my Univeristy students believe that simply showing up for class is enough not just to pass the course but to get an A.
All of this should be frightening to business people in any country. In the next five years 45% of Alberta’s work force is due to retire. They won’t all leave but they will be able to. For the first time in our history there will be more jobs than workers.
Who will be filling in the gaps left by retiring baby-boomers heading to warmer climes and sandy beaches? The young workers who are being taught that it is okay to be mediocre and that placing 115th is just as good as being 1st!
There is our future work force. People who don’t just believe competition is wrong – they won’t even understand the word.
If it is the responsibly of schools to prepare future citizens to function at high levels (and I believe it is) then eliminating individual awards for excellence is exactly the wrong thing to do.
In a world that is getting smaller – and ever more competitive – we don’t need kids who want to be in the middle of the pack. We need kids who want to be, and are equipped to be, real leaders.
