We can put incredible pressure on children. In such cases as school spelling bees and other competitions where only one child wins is a situation where we create 10 losers and one winner. Competition has its place in human history but to put large amounts of pressure on a child is a situation that can make the child feel very about bad about for many years to come.

Strangely enough competitions in schools, between schools and such are situations that were created by adults and not children. Adults like competition. Sometimes egos play a part in such situations, an example is a teacher feels that she has the smartest children in her town, city or whatever. She gets together with other teachers (probably at a teachers convention or meeting) and she puts the idea forward to other teachers and no doubt some of those teachers will have the same feelings as she does about her students. And a Spelling Bee is born.

Then the spelling bee is announced to the schools taking part in the competition. The teachers are overjoyed at taking part in the competition, well really the are overjoyed that they can prepare their students by tests and elimination to find out who will be “capable” of taking part in the spelling bee and represent the teacher, the class, and the teachers school.

The parents are pleased that the school has a new event. Some parents are overjoyed because these parents push their children to succeed. Some parents have a strong feeling that their child will be chosen due to that child’s “ability” to spell etc.

The children, like sheep, are rounded up for this important event. They are put through the tests. Many will fail the tests. The next sets of tests will eliminate more children until finally the few are chosen. While those children who failed are to varying degrees happy for those who did succeed their surely must be some forms of feeling a failure. Finally the chosen ones of the classrooms are chosen and the battle begins to find out who is the best speller in the school. More children are eliminated, parents and teachers are disappointed, except of course the parents and teacher of the child that wins. And so on it goes…

Who really wants these competitions? The proud school leader (headmaster, headmistress, principle etc), the teachers, the parents or the students. The students that pass the tests are heavily encouraged by thrilled and encouraging teachers and parents and possibly their school friends.

Why create a situation where so many children at such a young age are made into losers? One winner, to get accolades, and many disappointed losers to go home empty handed. Some will be good losers, some will be greatly disappointed, some will cry, some will become bitter). National or big competitions are events which would put even greater pressure on a child. Some may feel that these events are good for the child, but surely the child’s age and mental growth should be taken onto account.

Many children, if asked about this, would most likely agree with the parents and teachers. one reason is because of the distant hope of success (with no competition, then no success), some because they don’t want to disappoint the teachers and parents etc. And for other reasons. This subject was raised for adults, not children. Competition has its place, but it needs to be for the good of the children and not just for the egos of the school and parents.

All the best from
James Martin Sandbrook.
Tuesday, ‎16 ‎January ‎2007, ‏‎3:34:20 PM.