Educational Olympics

By Pansy Hamilton Brown

One of the ingredients in life that ignite people of all ages to superlative performance through their dauntless efforts is "competition".

The energy, excitement and jubilance that participants in the game of life experience is usually generated by the rewards that await them, as well as the exuberant applauses of persons who share in long anticipation of the success that is pursued.

The cheers and shouts of approval that are heard at most graduation ceremonies in our educational system, confirm the joys in the accomplishments of graduates that they support. Such expressions therefore confirm that success and excellence bring happiness to vast numbers of parents, relatives and friends everywhere. It is important to contemplate the feelings, of individuals when children do not succeed. What kind of emotional expression do persons give children who fail to perform, academically, socially, and lack good value systems at various levels of development.

Everyone who competes in sports or academics must conform to discipline and training. Those who conform to instruction in detail, and exercise the principles upon which the activities are pivoted will only receive the ribbons, trophies medals or financial incentives. In the Olympics that unite viewers around the world, there is immeasurable

anticipation in knowing who gets the gold, silver or bronze medals. It is a fair judgment to suggest that all who enter the Olympics are winners. They all won many hurtful moments in preparation, were victorious over many at the various levels of tryouts. All Olympians won victory over poor habits, self-indulgence and the snares of discouragement when things sometimes got tough.

So it is in education, that anyone who sacrifices his normal routine of fun and passing pleasure and pushes himself beyond what can be viewed as the normal physical and mental expectations in pursuit of the educational crown, is indeed an Olympian.

As a matter of fact, the educational rewards might be more perpetual, depending on the utilization of the accomplishments. Like the athlete, it feels good to win regardless of the type of sports. It feels good to excel irrespective of the subject content. Irrespective of the technical skills or any type of more academic education the recognition given nationally, internationally or school-based contribute to volumes of happiness and self-esteem to the recipients. However, students at all levels of the educational system should respond to training and discipline not because of subjective educational competitions with others but for personal self-fulfillment. Competition should not be under girded with the idea of just outshining others but to keep the glow of continual dedication and the realization that the best was done in the challenges of the lifelong process of learning.

Dr. Jim McIvor, a university professor spent much time watching and studying the behaviour of ants. Some people call him the "ant man" because of his tenacity of admiring how ants respond to one another, their organization and how they work. He noticed that ants can construct structures without anyone giving them instructions. They have no supervisor or boss who dictate the procedures. Somehow they do the right things as a result of discipline and other inherited tendencies. There are no lazy ants in their colonies. Instead, each one functions with a sense of cooperation. He discovered that young ants are more impressionable than older ones. Older ants tend to resist change.

Parents and teachers need to remind themselves of the significance of early training in the educational process. "What your children will be they are now becoming." Go to the ants and learn some invaluable lessons of life.

Discipline in the educational system must be taught and modeled from early ages. Teach the children how to be Olympians at the learning process. "Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways." Teach the children the correct way to approach their assignments. Compliment them with praise and reward and express the abundant joy that you feel when they succeed. On the contrary, show your support and optimism when they perform less than expected. Unconditional love, care and support must never be denied your children. Encourage them to do their best as they aspire for excellence. Help them to be resilient and resist feeling downcast when they are criticized or when they are unfairly treated. "A job worth doing is a job worth doing well. Instill the daily preparations for life's Olympics through realistic procedures.

A group of college students were heard discussing the effects of blindness or deafness upon and individual's life in terms of being handicap. One student finally made the remark, "I would not want to be blind or deaf but if I had to have either defect, I would prefer deafness. As long as I have my sight I am not cut off from the world of affairs. At least I will be able to read." Children and adults should not deny themselves from reading books, magazines, newspapers or any other form of reading material, which can stimulate them to enter or improve their skills for the Olympics. Not only should they get thoughts from the written page, but they should truly comprehend and put positive thoughts into action as they seek to transform their lives.

May all those who teach and those who learn, foster physical, emotion and mental strength which come in a variety of packages. Strength however, used without wisdom can be destructive. Run the educational Olympics with power, integrity and wisdom as you prepare to be on the center stage of success. Receive with dignity your ribbons, medals and trophies. Be an educational Olympian.

Pansy Hamilton Brown is an educator, itinerant guidance counselor and a certified family life educator.

Posted Thursday 18 September, 2003

© 2003 The Nassau Guardian