Question

In today's intensely competitive society, some school systems focus on preparing a child for competitive skills instead of trying to ensure a well-rounded development. Do you think schools in the U.S. help develop each child to her/his full potential, or do they have a bias in favor of developing the competitive spirit?

Answer 1

The manner in which competition is viewed in today's educational institutions, might be one of the most misunderstood topics. There is often the debate going around, if our students should be or should not be competing against one another. There are many questions that indicate the positive outcomes of competitions such as creating winner, preparing them for the upcoming time etc.

the distinction between education and competition has become fairly minimal. Misinformation seems to pave the way around. Through the various forms of competitions, there could be a well rounded development of the child. Competition should not only be considered in one dimension, and hence, the manner in which competition creates holistic development could be understood as follows:

- collaboration and improving teamwork. This is a major misconception surrounding competition that it pins people against one another. But, competitions that are structurally designer could be seen in fostering collaboration. Team based competitions have not only seen to be facilitating critical thinking, but, have also been seen to be dilineating the boundaries that exist between students.

- emotional and social learning: this is a difficult area for development for the students. During their adolescence, children are the most vulnerable emotionally and it is very easy for them to be hurt and affected. But there are certain best practices in competitions, through social service assignments etc, which would facilitate emotional learning in children and make them empathetic individuals.

- increasing intrinsic motivation: it has often been criticised that by providing external rewards, the intrinsic motivation of the children is often hampered. Since, only the value of the reward is being highlighted and not the task per se. But , when the child is encountering a task that is challenging, without any obvious extrinsic rewards, the mind feels like carrying out the task in a better manner and going through with it, thus keeping up the intrinsic motivation.

yea, I believe school in US have been helping in developing the child in a holistic manner by engaging them into assignments away from academics. These stimulate development of the person as a whole and not only an academic student.