Harrison Bergeron Syndrome

This article in today's NY Times discusses 'The Incredibles' and the educational trend towards rewarding mediocrity. In many schools the harsher consequences of competition are nullified by the "everybody-gets-a-medal" philosophy.

No reasonable person wants to subject little children to win-or-lose realities during the years they need nurturing and positive reinforcement. But by the time grammar school wears on, kids need the experiences of both triumph and defeat in sports, academics, and their social lives.

This is not because we want to raise brutal and greedy little capitalists. It's because we want kids to develop the emotional wherewithal to rebound and recover, to keep growing right though the bumps and knocks that go with living. (If you want to witness a tantrum, be there when Overprotected Johnny, who has been told his whole life he is "special", gets handed his first F in a high-school class, or a resounding loss on the playing field.)

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