North Carolina Wants to Ban Participation Trophies
North Carolina Wants to Ban Participation Trophies
As a 39-year-old, I missed the participation trophy craze that seemed to take hold in the late 90s and early 2000s. The idea of giving kids a trophy just for showing up seemed strange to me at first, but after doing some student teaching, I did see some benefits.
Before making radio my career, I thought I was going to be an elementary school teacher. I spent some time in a classroom observing and helping out. I noticed that some kids who were shy or lacked confidence would light up when they received a participation trophy. It gave them a sense of accomplishment and recognition, even if they didn’t win the competition. It seemed to motivate them to try harder and feel more included in the group.
Of course, I also saw kids who didn’t care about the trophies at all, but that didn’t diminish the positive impact they had on the others.
The debate surrounding participation trophies has been ongoing for years, with some arguing that they contribute to a culture of entitlement and prevent children from developing resilience in the face of failure. Others argue that participation trophies are a positive way to encourage children to take part in physical activity and foster a sense of teamwork.
A group of politicians in North Carolina has introduced the “Eliminate Participation Trophies Act,” which seeks to ban participation trophies at all youth sporting events sponsored by state or local governments. The proposal aims to encourage children to strive for identified performance achievements rather than receiving trophies or ribbons just for showing up.
While some critics argue that participation trophies make children think they’re a “winner” just for showing up, others believe that the proposal is overblown. Most participation trophies and ribbons go to young children, typically aged six to seven, and are phased out by middle school.
The question remains: are participation trophies harmless souvenirs for children or do they have a detrimental impact on their motivation and sense of accomplishment?
Where do you stand on participation trophies? Do you think there are any benefits to them or do you think they hinder children?
(Source: WLOS)
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