On 9/20/2011 5:54 AM, Invisible wrote:

>
> Think about it. In a competition, you win by making somebody else lose.
>

Of course, the real world is competitive. What you have done, by denying 
the existence of competition is sent someone into society who is 
ill-prepared to deal with that society. Sure, you can have personal 
goals, but somewhere someone is going to lose out where you win. The 
other applicants for a job, the promotion from a pool of workers, 
finding a mate; all competitive.

By not acknowledging that the world is competitive, that person is 
likely to experience extreme disappointment when they don't get the job. 
"But it was my personal goal, why didn't it happen?"

Or, it could swing the other way. "Hey! It was my personal goal to 
become manager. Your goals don't matter, so what is your problem? I 
achieved my goal. I'm sure you will someday, too.

Learning competition means understanding that you will not always come 
out on top. It's about learning to be fair to others. It means giving 
the other side due consideration. I for one welcome competition in our 
schools.

That statement by that teacher is dangerously ill-conceived, rather than 
insightful.
-- 
~Mike

Post a reply to this message