In response to, Cerberus: Rio proves elites work – let’s start with our schools, davidraynes wrote:
A tale of two grandchildren.
As is the way with grand fatherhood, a few years ago I was on duty to go to two school “sports days” to watch my genetic inheritance..
At one, in Somerset, I was troubled to find there was no true competition, no winners. Individual competitive events had been banished. Everything was done in teams and even teams did not really compete with each other. All, at that school anyway, clearly must have prizes, or no one does.
At another school, in Surrey, everything was competitive. Competition was fierce, some people were winners and lauded for it. Even the hopeless cheered their winners proudly.
I found, still find, the first school very depressing. It is a school that until Michael Gove caused it to happen, children never learned their mathematical tables.
I conclude there is still much to do.