[KotOD]

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When it came time for chem lab partners, you certainly weren't picking a partner based on their athletic skill. When it came time to do math projects, you didn't get picked based on your ability to pass or set. [I was always picked last in math class. People avoided me and the teacher had to find me a partner.] The mock trial team wasn't based on the ability to jump. There are plenty of opportunities to excel, and if you weren't good enough in athletics, it smacks more of jealousy than anything else.


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Woah ..... hang on there bro. Let me just clarify a few things for you here;

1. I didn't go to an American school.

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I thought you looked a little strange.

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2. I was a straight A student at that school. It was an all boys school and it supposedly prided itself on its academic values. The truth was that it was a sports school and prided itself on its results and reputation on the sports field. Academic excellence didn't count for squat. The dumbest kids in the school were the teachers and administrations heroes if they were sport wonder-kids.
3. This was a junior school, so we are talking ages 8-12. This coupled with the non-American school meant that we didn't actually have math teams, business competitions, debate teams, science competitions, mock trials, trivia teams and more.
4. I didn't weep, dude. If anything my post was scripted a little tounge-in-cheek to get a discussion going. You seem to have taken offense at this. I have no idea why.

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I didn't take offense in the least. I just find it perplexing that someone as intelligent as yourself tried to find his self-esteem in sport, or, as the case may be, had his self-esteem rattled because of lack of ability in sport.

Sure, American kids are subjected to the same stresses and priorities, but at the same time, the non-athletic types have plenty of avenues in which to excel. They won't get pep rallies for their exploits, but they will find accolades from peers, parents and teachers.