Analysis: Why Children Are Awarded Too Many Trophies
Why Children Are Awarded Too Many Trophies
Winston Churchill once said,” Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Everyone fails from time to time regardless of race, gender, or class. Some fail more often while others seemingly do not fail at all. Often, children are being taught that anyone can be awarded for merely participating. This idea is hindering more than it is helping, not adequately preparing them for the future ahead, and is leading to underperformance up to and throughout adulthood.
In 2015, James Harrison, a linebacker for the Pittsburg Steelers, took Instagram by surprise after he voiced his opinion about participation trophies. His two young sons had received these trophies, and
he took this as an opportunity to teach an important family value. Harrison said, “I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they earn a real trophy.” Harrison then went on to explain why exactly this was an important lesson for his family; he stated that he is unapologetic for teaching his boys not to be entitled, but to earn everything in life. Many agreed with Harrison’s position, while others were outraged and took it to Instagram to express their own individual values and opinions.
The question at hand is whether participation alone deserves a trophy. Many are beginning to believe it does not, as receiving participation awards inadequately prepares children for the future. Kelly Wallace, a writer for CNN, states she would rather have children make mistakes early in life, than “have them find out the first time in their lives, when they are in their teens and 20s, that not everyone is going to give them a trophy." In life, a student does not receive an A for a course because he or she merely attended classes and put in the minimal effort, just as one should not expect to be hired for a job only after attending one interview. It is much better to prepare kids ahead of time, rather than setting them up for greater failure in the future.
Winston Churchill once said,” Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Everyone fails from time to time regardless of race, gender, or class. Some fail more often while others seemingly do not fail at all. Often, children are being taught that anyone can be awarded for merely participating. This idea is hindering more than it is helping, not adequately preparing them for the future ahead, and is leading to underperformance up to and throughout adulthood.
In 2015, James Harrison, a linebacker for the Pittsburg Steelers, took Instagram by surprise after he voiced his opinion about participation trophies. His two young sons had received these trophies, and
he took this as an opportunity to teach an important family value. Harrison said, “I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they earn a real trophy.” Harrison then went on to explain why exactly this was an important lesson for his family; he stated that he is unapologetic for teaching his boys not to be entitled, but to earn everything in life. Many agreed with Harrison’s position, while others were outraged and took it to Instagram to express their own individual values and opinions.
The question at hand is whether participation alone deserves a trophy. Many are beginning to believe it does not, as receiving participation awards inadequately prepares children for the future. Kelly Wallace, a writer for CNN, states she would rather have children make mistakes early in life, than “have them find out the first time in their lives, when they are in their teens and 20s, that not everyone is going to give them a trophy." In life, a student does not receive an A for a course because he or she merely attended classes and put in the minimal effort, just as one should not expect to be hired for a job only after attending one interview. It is much better to prepare kids ahead of time, rather than setting them up for greater failure in the future.