Turn Good and Bad Again Word
- Participation in competitive academic activities helps students develop performance under pressure
- Competitive academic activities help students get comfortable coping with pressure of deadlines
Competition. The word can conjure all sorts of images: An exultant winner triumphing over a downtrodden loser, or the joy and self-satisfaction found in working hard and achieving your personal best.
Competition can have performance-enhancing effects, whether it's applied to team sports or academic pursuits. Most agree, however, that when a competitive environment is healthy it helps those involved to build skills defined as sportsmanship.
Many definitions of sportsmanship exist. The following one is fairly broad and comprehensive: An attitude of athletes that strives for fair play, courtesy toward teammates and opponents, ethical behavior and integrity, and grace in winning and losing.
The education world, too, is filled with opportunities to build these same character traits of fair play, courtesy, integrity and grace by participating in activities such as spelling bees, geography bees, math and science fairs, chess competitions and writing symposiums. We all know that since one winner usually is selected, the process of competing must be a beneficial one and we can expect to see positive lessons learned in the process.
First, students have the opportunity to develop performance under pressure.
Consistently, one of our national fears is public speaking. During competitions, students are usually performing with others in front of an audience. Learning how to be poised and calm can be an important skill that transfers to success in the business world. Feeling comfortable in front of a group is basic to effective presentations in most fields.
Second, participation can help students become comfortable with the pressure that the element of time presents.
Students can become adept at focusing, prioritizing and participating with an internal sense of control and concentration. That sense of internal control keeps the feelings of "panic" at bay and helps a person to make important choices and adjustments.
Third, as we know, in our lives we will have successes, and yet also times where our personal best isn't good enough at the moment.
Learning to handle those setbacks and disappointed feelings with ethics and integrity can lead to a personal persistence and success in the long term. When we can develop the idea, "How can I do and be better?" as an internal reflection, we know that a setback doesn't define us, it merely challenges us. Instead of looking for excuses, we look for ways to grow, and we are able to be gracious to those with whom we competed.
Parents can support their children in the competition process by celebrating with them along the way.
Celebrate their courage, their willingness to undertake and prepare for the event and the skills they acquire during the process.
That way, win or lose, you have helped them develop the spirit and desire to try it again.
So, while an excess of anything can be unproductive, perhaps opportunities to compete, not just on the playing field physically, but also by challenging ourselves intellectually, can have real benefits for our children.
Competition can be a healthy part of everyday life.
Help your child learn all the valuable character-building lessons competition can foster.
Information: 480-963- 2313 www.newvistasaz.com.
Linda McFadyen is reading and curriculum coordinator at New Vistas Center for Education in Chandler. New Vistas is an advanced private preschool and elementary school. It is designated a Top Ten School by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth and was named the 2014 Top Arizona Elementary School in Science and Engineering.
E-mail your My Turn of no more than 650 words or Letter to the Editor of no more than 350 words to lee.shappell@arizonarepublic.com and place "Opinions" in the subject line. Include your address and phone number for verification.
Source: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/chandler/2014/09/05/academic-competition-good-or-bad-for-students/15097289/
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