For you elementary school teachers

I'm sure that'd go over really well during Language Arts, Math, Science, or Social Studies time.

It would be good for a PE teacher, though.

I might try to use it at recess tomorrow for my 4th graders. I'll let you know if I do.

This is a horrible idea.

Imagine the message you are sending to the rabbits..."You are weak, you are nothing but prey"...imagine their embarassment and humiliation as the wolves overtake them even after they were given a head start...imagine the wolves taunting the poor frightened little rabbits...

Oh, the damage that would be done to the self esteem of the poor little rabbits. It breaks my heart just thinking about it.

Please do not subject any of our youngsters to such a sick "game".

A better game would be "school of fish" or "herd of antelope" or "swarm of bees"...let them run as a group together, experiencing the joy of running and camaraderie without competition or humiliation. Oh please, just let the children play.

How about a good ol' game of "Smear the Queer". I outgrew it 25 years ago but recently found out kids are still playing it by that name.

Hey Bulldog,

Thanks for the game idea...I coach an elementary running program here in Colorado Springs...we'll give that game a try tonight after school. Sounds cool!

Your welcome! How did the game work out for you and the Hounds?

Your assumptions about self-esteem are misguided. Self-esteem must be EARNED through successful completion of a difficult task. It can't be given through contrived or fixed activities - kids see right through this. My guess is that the rabbits know they are slow; they will only build self-esteem in this area if they work at it, overcome their slowness, and acheive some level of success (even if they don't ever become a wolf or dog or whatever).

By the way, all studies about self-esteem have shown that it has ZERO impact on student performance. So, in essence, who the heck cares. We live in a world based on competition (not communism with no winners) - kids need to realize this.

You're school of thought (protecting kids from reality) leads to adolescents being unable to cope with boundaries or being told "no" or any kind of criticism or message anything other than the fluffy "you're the greatest!"

Hyper-concern over self-esteem by parents and schools lead to things like Columbine. Food for thought. Let the rabbits be eaten.

Bulldog!

They had a blast! and it completely wasted them...after finishing about 3-4 games of this...the hounds and rabbits collapsed on the field...totally spent. Thanks!

Very Cool!

travel agent wrote:

By the way, all studies about self-esteem have shown that it has ZERO impact on student performance. So, in essence, who the heck cares. We live in a world based on competition (not communism with no winners) - kids need to realize this.

While we do live in a world based on competition, and that is definitely a good thing, your understanding of self-esteem studies and the effects of self-esteem on performance is entirely incorrect.

travel agent wrote:

Hyper-concern over self-esteem by parents and schools lead to things like Columbine. Food for thought.

This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read on this board. While parts of your post have merit, these two stand out as being egregiously false and idiotic.

Hrm wrote:

your understanding of self-esteem studies and the effects of self-esteem on performance is entirely incorrect.

An American Psychological Study (performed by R. Baumeister, Florida St; Jennifer Campbell, U of British columbia; Joachim Krueger, Brown; Kathleen Vosh, U of Utah) concludes, and I quote, "We have not found evidence that boosting self-esteem (by therapeutic interventions or school programs) causes benefits."

Furthermore, the study continues, "Our findings do not support continued widespread efforts to boost self-esteem in the hope that it will by itself foster improved outcomes."

Baumeister states, "the self-esteem movement has not been good for individuals or society."

A study done by Donald Forsyth at Virginia Commonwealth concludes, "college students who received regular self-esteem strokes from their professors ended up doing worse on final exams than students who were told to suck it up and try harder."

Find and read an article written for USA today by Sharon Jayson in February of this year. (I'm summarizing) She writes that while self-esteem may be important, it must be earned. Too often "empty praise" is given, and she quotes developmental psychologist Sandra Graham (UCLA) as saying, "[false praise or contrived attempts at building self-esteem] can lead you to actually question your competence, not boost self-esteem."

Disallowing competitive environments in gym class are akin to contrived "self-esteem" building activities - shielding students from competitive results. The same goes for not keeping score in youth soccer games. If the "rabbits" feel that sorry for themselves as a result of getting caught, then they should take up chess or seek confidence and rewards in other areas.

My point about Columbine is that too often kids of the recent generation have been "self-esteemed" to death - to the point where their concept of reality is skewed. Parents shield kids from criticism and failure to the point where kids have no skills to deal with it. When life ultimately catches up to them, they explode.

To this end, Jean Twenge (pscyh professor at San Diego St) writes, "The self-esteem movement tends to result in an inflated sense of self and a feeling of entitlement."

Adults need to allow kids to build self-esteem by acheiving success through hard work. If the "rabbits" don't find it in PE, they can get it elsewhere. Shielding them from "losing" does nothing, and it can be harmful.

SO .... what studies back up your opinion, wise-guy? You seem to hint at your knowing it all .... or are you one of those hippy-liberals who pretend to know things but actually don't know diddley-squat? (Vonnegut reference)

Did I hurt your self-esteem? Sorry about that ....

I'm Travel Agent by the way ...

How did you play Smear the Queer?

It seems like it is different in every town.

The way we played it was one ball, two end zones, two teams, and as many players as you want. You had a free shot toward anyone with the ball, and you could do anything you wanted with the ball- but you had to carrry or catch the ball in the end zone.

Those games were so fun! Ultraviolent, but no one ever got really hurt. It was so ridiculous that no one ever got in fights, either, because we were all getting knocked all over the place.