In reviewing the blockbuster hit The Incredibles, New York Times columnist John Tierney raises some provocative issues concerning modern day schooling. Tierney notes that there’s quite a buzz in adult circles about the intellectual undertones of this cartoon movie. The movie takes some none-too-subtle (and perhaps welcome) slams at the egalitarian approach of educators towards kids. Is saying that ‘Everyone is special,’ another way of saying that no one is? Should students get ribbons for participation or finishing in the middle (or at the end) of the pack? Are we raising American status-seeking kids?

Tierney cites a 1997 survey which found that schools of education have long been bad mouthing any benefits that might come from competition: only a third of ed school professors considered rewards like honor rolls to be valuable incentives for learning, while nearly two-thirds said schools should avoid competition. Uh-oh. Other than on the athletic field (which mysteriously remains immune from this phenomenon), how are we pushing our students? Expecting and demanding their best? Are we sacrificing performance to foster self-esteem?

This piece brings back to the surface (however fleetingly) the debate long ago lost by those of us who happen to like spelling bees and year-end awards for something other than perfect attendance. The latest strangulation on competition may come from NCLB’s focus on standardized test performance, a policy that is causing schools to turn their attention from gifted programs to the task of helping failing students. In a perfect world, districts might figure out how to walk and chew gum at the same time. But it’s also our thought that it's not just the superstars that benefit from a little competition if given the opportunity. Even better, schools might discover that competition can prove to be a lot more motivating than wholesale distributions of "You are Special" ribbons.