Comments on: Do We Prepare Students for a Competitive or a Collaborative World?

By: Erase To The Top | TransLeadership

Erase To The Top | TransLeadership — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:35:21 +0000

[...] Superintendent I was involved in the writing process. During that time, I tried to make the argument to remove the word “competitive” from this, the plan’s vision statement… To [...]

By: Natalie Wojinski

Natalie Wojinski — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:14:48 +0000

This post and the corresponding discussion on Twitter has me thinking about my understanding of the terms compete and competitiveness. For me, they imply that at the end of the day there will be a winner and a loser. I use the term a lot (i.e. ‘can our students compete,’ ‘will you be competitive when you get to college?’) but when I use it that way I’m thinking something a little different than winner and loser. What I’m really concerned about is whether or not my students will have the skills, habits and knowledge to give them the same advantages as other prepared students. I think we are in the business of preparing our students to be productive members of society which will include collaborative tasks on personal and professional levels. I’m not yet sure which word I want to use in place of compete, but I think I need to find one.

By: Patrick Larkin

Patrick Larkin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:35:17 +0000

I agree with the premise that we need to focus on collaboration and push competition to the back burner. I think that is what I love most about Twitter and the tremendous sharing that goes on among educators. No one is worried about their school being the best, but instead the focus is on sharing best practice openly so that all students and teachers can benefit.

Can we carry this mentality over to schools and the way students interact with one another? The sense of community far outweighs the needs of the individual. I agree with you. We need to spend some time on this one.

By: Cathy Toll

Cathy Toll — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:04:41 +0000

1. Perhaps there is confusion between competing and competitiveness. Competitiveness means that one can be strong among one’s peers and function successfully. It doesn’t mean one has to compete.
2. There is a big difference between being competitive as a five, eight, or twelve year old, and being competitive as the United States. Even if we want economic competitiveness as a country, we don’t need to create competition for children in classrooms.
3. There are also different kinds of competition. Competition for fun, in a game, where everyone has agreed to participate, can be great. Competition for test scores, which are meaningless to children, is not such a good idea.
4. When one looks at the environmental and economic crises that the world is facing today, collaboration even at the gloabal level is going to be essential for our survival.
5. The essential thing to remember about professional sports teams is that, first of all, they are TEAMS. They must colaborate as teams before they can compete, in the game, where they are all choosing to participate, for millions of dollars.
6. As a Cheesehead, I am so glad you used the Packers as an example!