Science Fair Season

(My, I'm chatty the last few days!)

Yesterday M brought home an entry form for the Science Fair. C should bring home an entry form today. Although we've been talking about potential topics for months, it's decision time.

Last year C won 2nd place in his division with a project on engineering the Hagia Sophia, demonstrated with cantaloupes (er, musk melons). M won third place in his division with a project on hurricanes. Two years ago, C won 2nd place with a project on steam engines, including a steam engine made out of balsa wood, copper pipe and a candle.

This year, M thinks he wants to do something on black holes. C is still considering. Extracting onion DNA, perhaps. Or some thing about the coliseum in Rome (did you know it had a retractable roof? C says it's the basis of design for modern retractable roof stadiums). My husband brought out some back issues of Make to give him some ideas. Do you know that magazine? Geek heaven.

I scoured the forms and attached information page to figure out whether there would be "winners" this year. Yes, looks like there's something to actually be won. The first, second and third place winners in each category (experimental, illustrative or technology) receive small trophies. The honorable mentions receive medals. Everyone receives a certificate of appreciation and participation.

A couple of months ago, all the families that participated in last year's fair received letters from the district coordinator. This letter included a survey about whether we, as participants, wanted there to be trophies. That is, did we want competition as part of the fair.

It seems that after last year's fair, a parent, who did NOT have a child participating in the fair, approached the district coordinator after the fair and said that she felt that it was wrong to have it be a competitive event. That no kid should receive anything other than a certificate of appreciation. Participating should be its own reward.

Oh please.

The coordinator said that she would be willing to look into the issue and survey participants, but before that could happen, this parent went to the PTA to complain that they should not support the purchasing of trophies for the Science Fair because it was unfair and everyone should just get certificates. She managed to make a pretty good stink about it before anyone directly involved had a chance to respond in a constructive manner.

Again, let me reiterate: this person did not have a child participating in the fair.

The Science Fair in our town is a completely optional event. It takes place on a Saturday in the spring (usually a beautiful Saturday when everyone would prefer to be outdoors), and relies on volunteers from the community - not just schools - to make it run. There's a research institute in town that offers significant support with financial contributions (the PTA pays for only a portion of the cost of the trophies and certificates) and by encouraging staff to be judges. It's well-done. If anything, it could use MORE support from the school community.

I immediately wrote an email to the district coordinator that said essentially this:

"My boys enjoy participating in the Science Fair, and they enjoy the competitive nature of it (and that's not just because we are three for three for trophies). The competitive aspect of the Fair pushes them to try a little harder, be a little more creative in their thinking and stretch themselves. I don’t think they would be as interested in it if there were no trophies for which to compete. Sure, there’s the possibility they will be disappointed, and it’s my job as a parent to help them manage that possibility, as well as learn how to be gracious winners if they do well. I’m not afraid of that task.

Competition is a part of life. While I do not want it to overwhelm my children and dominate their activities, some is healthy. And I think in this small arena, it’s good. I prefer it be introduced at the younger grade levels in the context of the Science Fair rather than on the soccer field or baseball diamond (given some of the sports-crazy fathers in town).

Yes to trophies."

This person who is so bent on removing competition? She'd better be consistent and be asking to remove all competition. In that case, there would be no entries to go to the state level for the Reflections program. Classrooms competing for a pizza party by how many boxtops or pennies they bring in? That would have to be out, too, I think. What about the competition to draw a cover for the school directory?

After receiving that letter, I called my friend N. Her kids have been more consistent participants in the Science Fair and have the variety of results to prove it. She also thought it was silly and said her husband also wrote an email to the coordinator about it. We're both pleased to see there is still some competition in this year's fair.

Now, back to focusing on kicking some Science Fair butt.