The competing and comparing

A thing that bothers me greatly is that idea that we see playing out in mass hysteria with for instance Olympic games. There is only room for one winner. Yes there is also the 2nd and 3rd, place but there is very prominent one winner. And that single point tells me, that it is a huge handicap and fault within our system. This winner/looser culture is tough early from in school and kindergartens. It is ok to loose, cause that is how it is. It is ok to win, cause someone has to win etc - That it is ok to have one winner, one person who is greater and better than other kids, because that is how we make our rules. That is the essence of our game. To sort out that one person from class who scores highest in most curriculum. To praise that one person and create a more archaic, frictional, negative, and competitive, hierarchy and separation within the environment. It is not sane. It is the fundament of war. It is very, very far from benefiting or supporting learning, being or cooperating.

So this is a message to you, who hold responsibility for a child, either in class or in home environment. Lets end the competition and comparison, shall we ? I mean if you are a teacher in the system this could seem like a difficult task, but; hey, every little push helps right ? Every time we talk about how damaging the grade system is, or talk about how we see competitive testing and scores really does more harm than good. Every little push of awareness can help to pull us all into a better, more sane direction.

It can be fun to sit and watch people, do sports and do their thing. But if we look closer, over time, within on what competing and comparing really does ? It is not pretty.

So I beg of you to start addressing more frequent and direct - to help us all to become more aware of this and to change the whole "game" to a more sane and supportive experience for all involved parts.

Thank you for reading