Posted on 04/02/2002 6:01:49 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen
Would someone please force my jaw shut? After hearing the news of this and other children's games being banned in our public schools nationwide, my mouth fell wide open in disbelief.
Oh, I was so good at "musical chairs" … that was MY game. When the music started, I could get around those chairs and focus intently on listening for the music to stop; that was my cue to sit down in an empty chair quickly. When it did stop, there was a "mad" scramble. Sometimes I would make it and sometimes I wouldn't. There were times when I was laughing so hard I could barely drag myself to a chair. So, I had to sit out the remainder of the game until a winner was declared. Then we started another "round" of it, and that's how it was.
It was especially tricky around the corners where you could get caught without a chair, so you really had to surge forward, almost like a breakaway, and get around those corners fast and establish your position.
"Musical Chairs" … why that was the last bastion of childhood innocence. Yes, someone always got left out; another chair was removed, and you went from there. What a wonderful memory!…until now.
It never bothered me to beat someone to the chair — I was very competitive. But now that I hear it encourages exclusion, I am saddened that we are teaching children it is bad. To be told this now at my age is heart wrenching. I am so ashamed. Why couldn't I have known this sooner. I needed to feel the pain of all the other children that were excluded. And to think I was excited about winning. Nowadays, I would be labeled a bully. Someone help me with this anguish.
Since the Washington Times [Friday, March 29, 2002] announced, "Schools don't play cops and robbers," it also listed the other games that would be banned. Musical chairs; Duck, Duck, Goose; Steal the Bacon; and Tag have all been suspended because they encourage exclusion, theft, bullying, aggression and competition.
What if we put helmets on everyone and let them wear some protective gear, just like football? I am sure that if these games are determined violent, then it is inevitable we'll have to say good-bye to football, hockey, and soccer; all of which (even on the grade school level) could fall into any one of these categories.
I've also noticed that some players on the baseball team remain on the bench the entire game and never get to play. EXCLUSION? Shucks, this could be the end of American sports as we know it.
These "schoolground" games might be the only physical competition some children could ever be a part of, because not every one makes the official school team. Exclusion again?
It seems like a perfect opportunity for a teacher to offer a great lesson in winning and losing. Maybe these games have been banned because teachers don't want to teach this lesson — it's just easier not to let them play such games at all.
It was through the lessons of musical chairs, red rover, and tag that I gained a spirit of determination and competitiveness. It seems that we're trying to "over-correct" to save our children from … WHAT? Being ostracized?
I can only imagine that someone who has never experienced any rejection, exclusion, or competition could probably "go ballistic" at his first job interview when told someone else got the position.
After these past few months of kids being kidnapped and killed; accosted by Catholic priests; or drowned by a mother, and set on fire by a father; concerning ourselves with musical chairs is the least of our problems.
Yes, I may not have been able to get an empty chair every time, but I learned a valuable lesson that would galvanize me to keep on trying. I may have felt "left out" when I had to stand to the side and wait, but only for a moment. I learned that it was not personal — a lot of it had to do with timing; being in the right place at the right time — all of those things. And that's exactly what life presents to all of us.
It reminds me of the little boy who was observing the cocoon on the fireplace mantel. What was once a caterpillar was exerting a great effort to come out of its cocoon. The little boy asked his father if they could help by opening it up. The father replied, "We can't do that. The caterpillar must go through the changes and the struggle of breaking free on its own so that it will be strong enough to fly away as a beautiful butterfly."
There's a message in this for all of us.
Now that would be a whole lot better than living in this horrible commetitive society where hard work, reason and trail and error come in handy.
Oh I get it, you want to change our system into a socialist system where everyone is equal and no one is a loser. Well then, lets just pitch this social and economic experiment called America. What a novel idea.
I'd be glad to. Show me one.
Is it me or did it seem like all the music teachers were sadistic,mean,cranky old hags that delighted in making the class as miserable as possible.I could never understand reading music and never passed it anyway.We had this 50 some German woman that cussed like a sailor and was mean as a snake,I always pictured her in a Nazi SS uniform at her house admiring herself in a mirror.
You sound like a very lonely person. We get your point, you don't like sports, you don't like competition, you don't like free enterprise, and likely don't like Tiger Woods. There is a cynical view of all things, and so be it.
Cynics are needed in this world, they give the rest of us good laughs. As the saying goes, life's a comedy for those who think, and a tragedy for those who feel.
Do you think it was because of your social origins, or your lack of motivation?
You might want to try homesteading in Alaska. No exploitation in the bush! lol
I, like Mr. Bergeron, fear you are having us on. ;^)
My husband is still steaming about Ten Little Indians now being Ten Little Airplanes. We have 3 grandchildren under 18 months and we're beginning to SEE with our own eyes what the liberals have done to childhood!
I have emotional scars from playing "War Ball" in high school (it's sort of like Dodge Ball on crack).
Yes labor away in your cubicle farms, you Borg drones, and look upon Tiger Woods and know that somewhere, for one person at least, effort is rewarded.
I don't like free enterprise you claim? Our enterprise is becoming less and less free. We live in mixed economy to be strictly accurate and the admixture of unfreedom is becoming greater all the time.
We are blesed to live in the USA, even with her faults.
Of course we don't say "Einie meenie miney moe, catch a nigger by his toe" anymore either, and I don't think that's a bad thing either.
But some of the other stuff is just plain nutz.
Oh, wait.......then they'd be whining about that.
Do you think it was because of your social origins, or your lack of motivation?
Do you not know how hard it is to get llama hooves to work a keyboard?
You don't like Tiger Woods because he proves that hard work pays off? Seems to me your problem is not with Tiger Woods, but with your own preconcieved mindset.
Yes labor away in your cubicle farms, you Borg drones, and look upon Tiger Woods and know that somewhere, for one person at least, effort is rewarded.
You are very correct to state that by working for others you are not likely to become wealthy or overly rewarded, certainly some will, but the most will not become wealthy through these means. Of course working for others contains very little risk as well... you do not get the big reward by taking little risk. Some people are happy and content to have a good home and a steady paycheck, others are not. Do not belittle those who are. Tiger Woods certainly is not an example of the cubicle worker, the effort and dedication he put forth to get where he is is far beyond 9-5. You want the big reward, take the risk or sit down, no ones gonna hand you the brass ring you have to earn it.
I don't like free enterprise you claim? Our enterprise is becoming less and less free. We live in mixed economy to be strictly accurate and the admixture of unfreedom is becoming greater all the time.
Are there bad regulations? Certainly. But if you think NO REGULATIONS is the way to go you are are incredibly naive.
I honestly could care less, as far as I am concerned we are all one race, HUMAN. Its the only race I check when I get a form that asks me.. I check the other box and write human. As for offended by some label invented hundreds of years ago that was wrong (after all this isn't india) so be it... don't call em Native American's either...
Proud member of the fightin whities....
Ugggh! I was speaking sarcastically.
>You want the big reward, take the risk or sit down, no ones gonna hand you the brass ring you have to earn it.
I'm glad you said brass ring. In a merry go round, the brass ring is made to look like you can reach out and get it. But in reality, it is rigged so that it is very hard to get it. Cubicle workers are told, "Work hard and you will be rewarded." In truth, they are held to predetermined 3% raises. Naturally, the one or two uber geeks are well fed, but management is forced to reward such people or lose the entire business. The boss points to uber programmer so and so and says, "Work like him and you'll get a greater reward." Hence the brass ring. In truth the boss intends only that you'll only get the 3% increase, but they want that motivation to remain so that YOU produce like crazy.
Actually as someone who has rode a merry go round in Santa Cruz, California many a time (they actually still do have brass rings (well stainles steel these days)) The brass ring is not out of reach or unattainable. In fact I not only grabbed one every time around the circle, but threw it successfully through the clowns mouth on occassion as well.
Cubicle workers are told, "Work hard and you will be rewarded." In truth, they are held to predetermined 3% raises. Naturally, the one or two uber geeks are well fed, but management is forced to reward such people or lose the entire business.
I see so the uber geeks, who are better at their craft or skill getting paid more because as you say they are worth it, for not to pay them would cause the entire business to be lost, are keeping the moderate or lesser skilled oppressed? Seems like rewarding the most deserving based on skill and ability to me.
The boss points to uber programmer so and so and says, "Work like him and you'll get a greater reward." Hence the brass ring. In truth the boss intends only that you'll only get the 3% increase, but they want that motivation to remain so that YOU produce like crazy.
hahaha.. yes it does sound like you got a bad review, and are now spiteful to everyone else. I have never gotten less than a 8% annual raise in my life, every time a boss or manager or potential employer said I was not worth it I have gone out and found not only the salary I wanted elswhere, but more and a better opportunities to boot from someone else. I don't know about your experiences but mine are not "perform like abc and you'll get more" More often it is you need to work on x and/or y... not work like him. In fact any manager worth their salt who simply tells an employee work more like another employee is a piss poor manager.
In the tech field especially sticking with the same company year in and year out doing the same job year end and year out is not the way to move ahead. Technologies advance to rapidly and if you sit idle you will be left behind... not like other industries in the least.
My experience has been, without question hard work pays off, but on the flip side of the coin if you feel you are being wronged you move on as well. If you feel 3% is too little, find another job, don't blame the system, the system pays what it can get away with. Yet even with all the growth and success I have had in my career thusfar I still know my success lies on my own shoulders not from others. I invest in real estate and run my own company as well, to better my financial position and bolster my personal freedom, and if at the end of the day I become very wealthy, it will not be from the work I do day to day for others, but the work I do on my own endeavors that will take me there.
Do employers hold out carrots? Sure they do, bonuses are one in the tech field that never materialize, and why I will never take a job with a significant part of the salary as bonus... roll it into my base or forget about it.. have seen every company I have worked for screw over tech people on bonus program... every single one. Even if they deliver everything for the bonus, money never shows up... I don't trust my employers, I know they are out for themselves, and I am just a resource to them.. .but I do make myself a valueable resource and make damned sure I am never placed in a no win.
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