Everyone is Special?

In reading this article in the National Post, I find myself nodding my head, agreeing with the commencement speaker. Kids are not special. Sounds harsh doesn't it. Of course our kids are very special to our families, this is not what I am speaking of.  It is the medals for everyone, regardless for the outcome. Kids being told how special they are and that everyone wins all the time.

“You are not special,” he told them.
“You are not exceptional,” he said.
“Contrary to what your U9 soccer trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade report card, despite every assurance of a certain corpulent dinosaur, that nice Mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, no matter how often your maternal caped crusader has swooped in to save you, you’re nothing special.”
There was laughter, even applause from among the assembled students.

Perhaps because a middle-aged man wearing a blue shirt, blue jacket, blue tie — with reading glasses perched on the end of his nose — uttered The Great Unspoken truth on a day typically reserved for hollow platitudes: Our kids are not special. They are just kids.

My daughter has played soccer since she was almost 4, and I am sure she has over 15 medals. All from when she played recreation soccer, where everyone gets a medal. Since she has played competitive soccer, this is not the case. And wow what a difference! In the past year she played very competitive soccer and fun hockey. Guess which sport she tried the hardest at? Yup, Soccer, because it was expected! If she didn't play well, she didn't play. At the end of her first season she was given the award, a real award, for most improved player. That award meant more to her than any of the medals she was given just for signing up.

Same thing with all the fuss about the Zeros that the teacher in Edmonton gave out. I find it ridiculous that students can not complete work and are not punished for it. If I do not complete my work, I hear about it! I don't understand what this teaches kids who are on the verge of leaving school and entering the real world. I listened to a debate about this same topic recently, and some of the teachers who are against the zeros, say we should learn for learning sake.... sure that can be a lifelong pursuit. But in the real world, you do not do your work, there is consequences. At their job they cannot choose to not do part of their work and expect to keep their job.

If you were not punished for not completing your assignments in high school, would you complete them? What about at your job, does your boss care if you complete your work?

What do you think? Should kids be rewarded for just showing up? And if so for how long?