Oh how times are a changing, I remember winning my first medal in October 1986 after winning the U17 boys singles in the Silvermints tournament in Dalkey. I was also runner up in the U14 boys singles. There was 3 medals for first, seecond and third. If you failed to reach the last 3 then that was your problem. Life is setting you up for the knocks and the falls that you will receive, and by god you will get big disappointments, you will aslo get joy and success. The three medal winners trained harder and deserved the medal. The others needed to try harder or find something they can excel at.
At a recent event I was attending I asked the teacher who was organising the competition about what prizes she had for the winners. I asked her was the there a first, second and third and to quote a lyric from a famous Hot Chocolate song ''Everyone's a winner'' She said Everyone gets a medal. I wanted to say something but could see the joy in her face and I didn't want to ruin her day. I waited until the following week to drop the bomb and come clean about how I felt about all children receiving a medal and how that can impact on there lives in later years.
She completely understood my point of view but I could see that she was going to continue down that path. If many teachers and youth leaders start this pointless and dangerous exercise then we will have a whole load of kids growing up butt hurt and very angry because they are not winning in life.
Remember, give a trophy to the winner. Show the other kids that there can be only one. How about we give Roger Federer the trophy and give everyone else a medal for taking part. This is the kind of nonsense that will destroy the next generation.
JB
At a recent event I was attending I asked the teacher who was organising the competition about what prizes she had for the winners. I asked her was the there a first, second and third and to quote a lyric from a famous Hot Chocolate song ''Everyone's a winner'' She said Everyone gets a medal. I wanted to say something but could see the joy in her face and I didn't want to ruin her day. I waited until the following week to drop the bomb and come clean about how I felt about all children receiving a medal and how that can impact on there lives in later years.
She completely understood my point of view but I could see that she was going to continue down that path. If many teachers and youth leaders start this pointless and dangerous exercise then we will have a whole load of kids growing up butt hurt and very angry because they are not winning in life.
Remember, give a trophy to the winner. Show the other kids that there can be only one. How about we give Roger Federer the trophy and give everyone else a medal for taking part. This is the kind of nonsense that will destroy the next generation.
JB
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