In our schools, competition for access to elite preschools, for grades, for social status, in sports, over positions of leadership, and for admission to exclusive colleges transforms one of our most basic institutions for fostering community, ethics and learning into competitive, individualistic corporate training-grounds. In these settings, the importance of competitive sports becomes paramount, for both financial and training purposes, and the artistry of cheating (see this year's Stuyvesant High School cheating scandal) and rule-bending (see Joe Paterno) revered. Such intense competition encourages the professionalization of parenting -- through tutors, highly-educated nannies, prep courses, and professional training camps (such as investment camps). You can imagine the deleterious effects these trends have on the ethos of care and moral responsibility in our families and schools, a critical buffer against bullying and violence in the lives of our children.
irshad ali on 18 Dec 11Carl Froch is aiming to restore British pride when he fights American Andre Ward in the final of the Super Six tournament in Atlantic City. In the past 12 months, British boxers have lost nine world title fights and won only two. "We're due a win, aren't we?" Froch, 34, said. "If you're a roulette table, eventually a red will come in. We've had eight blacks on the spin. "I want to put us back on the world map. We can't be a nation of losers." He added: "I have to bite down on to my gum-shield even harder because I've got to restore Britain's pride." Amir Khan, Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, John Murray, Brian Magee, Matthew Macklin, David Haye and Darren Barker have all lost fights abroad this year
