My comments were made with the perspective that participation in competitive sports activities should not be overlooked in the pursuit of extrinsic motivation such as medals and trophies. Instead, we should teach children it is more important to be intrinsically motivated in life.

Sports can indeed teach students life skills such as team spirit and discipline. As educators, we strive to instil these skills by encouraging more students to participate in sports. Mass participation enables students to realise that, while they may not always emerge on top, they still play an important role in a community. It teaches them to strive for involvement and achievement, not merely at the individual level, but also at the larger societal level.

Mr Tan suggested interclass sports competitions to encourage student participation in sports. Our school provides at least five competitive arenas for interclass sports which are organised by students. We want students to be equipped with an array of sports skills and concepts by the time they graduate, so they can apply this knowledge in their lives.

Ralph Roche
Head, Physical Education
Teck Whye Secondary School