Ain't no stupid kids, only underachievers.

Yes, because we all know that high expectations and stress levels stop at the gym door after graduation. Schools keep trying to replace parents in every other aspect of life. Why not this part as well?

Oh, please. This is all coming from the same people who say "There is no such thing as a wrong answer." This leads to one of my favorite cartoons where a teacher is saying to a student, "There is no such thing as a wrong answer, but if there were, this would be one!"

This ideology is rampant, and growing stronger. It is more evidence that our culture cannot survive another 5-10 years of this tax-supported, mandatory, and anti-civilizational subculture (which isn't really 'sub', BTW)

Note also, how the system hides behind the fringe of silly and whiney parents as it imposes a mediocrity (or worse) upon us.

They blame the parents, ignoring the fact that they created this craven class of parents a mere 15-25 years ago.

If it were common it wouldn't be newsworthy, nor would the district be forced to reverse themselves.

Wasn't it Mr. Garrison (of South Park) who said, "There are no stupid questions, just stupid people."

I lived through a decade of this kind of thinking in youth athletics.

This is where that so-called, self-proclaimed "liberal," John Rawls-type thought takes us. First. they favor the "worst-off," so education and indeed all institutions are to minister to the least fit. Then to perfect the irrationality, the goods of the earth are "Manna," whereby production just happens, and is unrelated to reward.

I concur with Bruno that the rot is very deep indeed, taking the form of systems in which the able are yoked unqually* with the less so, as when they are made to share tasks, one doing the real work, another
coasting and collecting.
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*Bush-stype Christianist code-words--who can spot it?

All college education should be Federally funded, all college entrance requirements abolished, kids are assigned their college slots by lotto, all exams will be abolished to avoid singling out the underachievement of underachievers, all jobs are allocated by lottos. Close our trades with foreigners, such as the Indians and the Chinese, to protect us from unfair competitions.

Read an interesting suggestion on another blog, stop publishing or even keeping score at athletic events and we'll call it even steven. Makes sense.

Erp: That doesn't work. The children always keep score on their own. Been there, done that, really. Shaving points and fixing matches is fraud and even young children are quick to see it as fraud.

We can do without standings, but not without the desire to win. Teamwork, discipline, loyalty-- everything we hope to teach through athletics-- derives from the desire to win. Winning is not important but doing one's best is everything.

Lou, I forgot the s/on - s/off. You're right, but I disagree that winning isn't important. Winning may not be the only thing as per Vince Lombardi, but it is important otherwise why bother trying.

Funny story -- after my husband's hip replacement, he was sent to rehab for a couple of weeks. First day up, he was told to walk as far as he could. He pointed to his room mate and asked, how far did that guy go and then made sure he went a couple of yards further. What did he win? Bragging rights. The other guy was just as crazy and they both progressed remarkably well by doing their best to best each other.

Nature of the male beast. Can't imagine women behaving that way.