Remember the good job, good effort kid from Game 5 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Well…sadly, that kid probably figured everyone was getting a trophy regardless of the outcome. And who could blame him, especially after watching this week’s HBO Real Sports piece on Trophy Culture. Yes, we are giving out trophies to kids like they are candy (17th place trophies, last place trophies, participant trophies…basically trophies just for showing up)! Being a teacher for the past 13 years, I saw first hand how this “self-esteem approach” is setting kids up for future failure. At some point, we need to draw the line, and just let kids be kids! To quote George Costanza…”you know we’re living in a society.” I can only cringe how this future society will be with all the “Trophy Culture” kids in charge. Oh, the humanity!
Good job, good effort…
