I’m not really a big fan of participation trophies because I do believe that kids should learn its ok to try and fail. We all know that you learn as much from failure as you do success and I try to create a culture with students that shows participation does not need a trophy. Does a kid deserve a trophy just for showing up? Not necessarily. Does a kid deserve a trophy for trying their hardest and stepping out of their comfort zone? Absolutely! (metaphorically speaking)
In the drumlines I work with we hold drum tryouts to progress the members from the beginner instruments like cymbals, to the more advanced instruments like snare or quads. We encourage everyone to tryout because it gives them the experience of working toward something, takes the nerves out of the auditioning process and teaches us a lot about the kids. We can see who works hard and who doesn’t, who is taking it seriously and who is just doing it because they have too. In our minds we are rewarding those who are deserving of “participation trophies”.
Even with younger groups we still do it, not to stress them out, but to show them that things aren’t just given to them, they have to earn it. The most important part of this whole process is not how we treat the kids that moved on, or how we discipline the kids who didn’t care. It’s about how to we show pride and gratitude to the ones who worked their but off but didn’t quite meet the mark. It’s these kids that we need to foster most because one day they will work their but off and it will be worth it. That’s the best kind of participation trophy".
-Hilary