Why does everyone get a trophy

Reading Level L. Should Everyone Get a Trophy? February 19, Until then, kids should participate in sports because they enjoy it—and let that be the reward. What do you think? Yes No. Please make a selection. You have reached the vote limit of votes. Cast Your Vote. Thank you for voting! Voting has ended. See final results below. See results Hide results.

What does your class think? Sorry, please make sure that the total number of votes is between Please vote for at least one. Continue the Learning Journey. You're in charge of a sports league, and you have to decide whether to reward only the winning team or all participants.

Write a speech that you will have to give to everyone participating in the sports league, explaining your side. What elements and values do you think are important to reward in sports? How will you prepare for what the other side may say? Once he found out that his children received trophies only for participation, former National Football League linebacker James Harrison decided to return the awards.

Write two letters, one from each of his children, responding to that decision. One child should agree with his choice, and another should be upset that he no longer has a trophy. How will the letters be different? Life and Culture. Sports , Debate. Before the current economic crisis, many 99 percenters felt richer and richer year after year as they earned more dollars though prices soared commensurately and found they could live in a "better neighborhood" without moving as the "value" of their homes apparently skyrocketed.

Now, with many millions unemployed and 11 million homes underwater, that illusion has been shattered. Today's hyper-low inflation only makes things worse for most of us, as mega-banks borrow from the Fed at zero percent , while human beings' savings earn virtually no interest.

At the same time, corporate bigwigs bask in a variation of the Lake Wobegon effect, as boards ratchet up compensation packages and golden parachutes for CEOs without regard to merit. Phony advocates for "democracy" like to give the impression that nobody's better than anyone else -- not on some abstract notion that we'll be treated equally before the law, but that "fairness" means we're all the same. Huey Long liked to say -- before he was dispatched to that very undemocratic utopia in the sky.

News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline. HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes. Follow Us. Terms Privacy Policy. Part of HuffPost Education. That the ones who barely show up for practice, give half-hearted effort on the field and show no passion for whatever game they are playing should get a prize? I think not. This kind of entitled attitude not only leads kids to expect a reward for any effort given but also diminishes the concept and prestige of even receiving a trophy.

Even in our schools the tide has turned. Once upon a time in a kingdom far far away, letterman's jackets use to be the envy and desire of every upcoming freshman athlete.

Just to smell the leather or cloth when they were sweaters as you slipped on the jacket with your school's letter on it These jackets were reserved for the best of the best. Now, however, it is not only acceptable but demanded that theatre and band members get letters for their efforts. I remember being shocked when I learned that some of my friends "lettered" in drama. I am not here to debate or belittle the effort and talent it takes to succeed in these other areas.

It is very hard work to learn to play an instrument or to take on an emotional character, and I applaud the ones that do. However, Kobe Bryant doesn't get a Grammy or an Oscar for having a point game.