Competition VS. Cooperation

I believe that cooperation is better than competition, because no matter how competitive you are, it’s going to be hard to get anywhere if you do not have cooperation. “Better” meaning that cooperation causes less problems and creates more self and group esteem.

I believe that cooperation and competition are two very different mindsets; however there can be a healthy balance between the two, as long as certain boundaries are remained. People with a competitive mindset are more than likely to focus only on winning, and believe they can do so all on their own. They also most likely become frustrated with their team members when things begin to go wrong, which creates a negative atmosphere for everyone and reduces the self-esteem of others. Those who focus on cooperation tend to be more of a team player, and understand that in order to be successful, it is important to work as a team and be respectful of each individual’s abilities. They are also presumably more positive with others, even when things are going downhill. I believe there is a fine boundary where people can play competitively as well as cooperatively, which leads me to my next point. Competitive games are always great to play, but I believe it is important to teach children how to play competitively in a cooperative way. There are always going to be games that are competitive, so instead of trying to avoid them, teach children how to play them with cooperation and a positive attitude, showing respect for their teammates and opponents at all times.

Should we be promoting elite sports in school? I believe that elite is a strong word to be used when talking about elementary aged children, and even high school as well. I do think that the athletic system that is currently in place is well suitable for sports in school, because it provides many students with the opportunity of being on a team, without excluding those who may not be at an elite level of athleticism. There are also many opportunities for students that wish to have an athletic career to continue on with their sport of choice, such as playing for a University. There are also schools that are focused around athletics that students of an elite level of playing can attend.

Competition can either increase or decrease ones self esteem. Some positive aspects of competition are that it can help to assess your strengths and weaknesses, helps you manage success and failure, and improves your perseverance. Although these attributes are not necessarily important to most students. Competition will more than likely create negative feelings for the majority of people. Such as put-downs, feeling like they can’t contribute effectively, the grief of losing a game, and the overall damage to ones self esteem. Therefore I agree with David Johnson when he says, “More students feel good about themselves as learners when they cooperate. Their self-esteem goes up, they have a better sense of community, belonging, and acceptance”. After reviewing the article, I agree that cooperation definitely has a more positive outcome for everyone.