Principal's Principles
Written by Martin Hookham
A few thoughts and articles for those who have a few minutes...
Competition
Posted on 20 March 2013 - 9:31 PM
Worrier or Warrior...turns out that competition is good for both!
THE BENEFITS OF COMPETITIONS Genetic differences aside, the key difference is between competition that challenges and competition that threatens. Children benefit from competition they have prepared for intensely, especially when viewed as an opportunity to gain recognition for their efforts and improve for the next time. Spelling bees, science fairs and chess teams all help to build skills in handling stress productively. A student’s science project might not be the winner, the judging of their project might be stressful and scary, but the experience builds skills and performance. Maybe the best thing about academic competitions is that they benefit Warriors and Worriers equally. The Warriors get the thrilling intensity their minds are suited for, where they can shine. The Worriers get the gradual stress inoculation they need, so that one day they can do more than just tolerate stress – they can embrace it. And through the cycle of preparation, performance and recovery, what they learn becomes ingrained. “Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart?” by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman in The New York Times Magazine, Feb 10, 2013
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