Re: Pinewood Derby Winning

I agree. It seems to me that this is the Scouting equivalent of grade
inflation. Competition <is> good. Having awards for EVERYONE is perhaps
important, but don't ever think you're going to satisfy the crowd by
saying all are winners and no one did better than anyone else. As Bruce
put it, someone obviously WINS a race. I'd like to see the awards committee
of the Indy 500 say, well, everyone is a winner because they showed up and
drove a few laps. That <would> sort of take the spice out of the event!

Cub Scouts grow into Boy Scouts, and in the Boy Scouts we are involved in
building adults. In the adult world, people win and people lose. A great
disservice is done when a child is taught that everyone wins and there are
no losers, because there will come a day when he learns the hard way that
it just ain't so.

But I will also say that some of the poorest losers I have known in Scouting
were adults. Particularly the SM in my district who got hacked off last
camporee because his troop lost the campsite competition. He railed about
the judges being Scouts. The same guy had complained at the previous camp-
oree that the judges were Scouters. Now what kind of example is that?
~~~
On Wed, 29 Jun 1994 17:21:13 +0900 Bruce Harper said:
> My question is then "why bother?" If there is this attitude about winning
>and losing, then why have the race? Pitting two cars against each other
>implies that there will be a winner and loser. If the attitude of "losing
>is bad" is passed on to the kids, then there are teachers and playmates who
>are in for a rough time from these kids. Perhaps there ought to be other
>activities planned that don't involve competition if such activities exist
>and can be made fun for the kids.
>

BITNET: NBRINDLE@INDYCMS -------------------- Internet: NBRINDLE@IUPUI.EDU
Nathan C. Brindle, Student Activities Office, IUPU-Indianapolis
Let's see...North Star District, Crossroads of America Council: ASM Troop 18,
District Committee Member, Assistant District Commissioner, OA Chapter Advisor
I used to be an Eagle (C-28W-93), and Bachelor of Commissioner Science, 1994
Disclaimer: My opinions are my own. Indiana University can speak for itself.
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