School spirit
Credit to Author: JESUS JAY MIRANDA JR. OP| Date: Sat, 25 May 2019 16:27:58 +0000
Sports is a moral equivalent of war, says Steve Taylor in Psychology Today. Of course, he was inspired by the essay of psychologist William James, who argued that the human race loved war for its positive psychological effects on victors. Winning makes people feel good.
“The excitement and intoxication which was once derived from warfare can be gained from national and international sporting competitions,” Taylor writes. “The sense of belonging and allegiance to your army comrades at war can now be gained through supporting your club. The feeling of being ‘more alive’ on the battlefield can be gained from the athletic field.”
But sports must go beyond and above the concept of war and conflict. The joy of sports must not lie in beating an opponent or emerging on top of everyone, which is only tantamount to the satisfaction from sheer brutality. The cause of celebration should be gratitude, and each celebration must be a thanksgiving to all, both supporters and opponents who were able to bring out the best in every athlete.
This holds true, especially in the context of learning. In our country, many educational institutions participate in athletic leagues, where they showcase their school pride with slogans, dauntless cheers and school colors. During finals matches, students, alumni and school personnel also flock to the venues to support their respective teams. The competition unites the school’s stakeholders. And, hopefully, the same thing will also be true outside sporting events, such as in working together to achieve the school’s noble objectives.
To be sure, colleges and universities take time and effort to scout for the best representatives in athletic meets. Expenditures on training, uniforms and apparel, equipment, allowances, accommodation and scholarships reach huge sums, taking a big chunk of the school’s overall budget. But this is all worth it.
Everyone desires to be in a winning team. Competition ignites a fiery showcase of school pride. It sets the stage for the school’s stakeholders to find and believe in the school community. In games, especially in the finals, they fuel the competitiveness of athletes. And, more than winning, their forceful display of oneness and camaraderie is more precious a reward to celebrate. It is an assurance of trust in the institution. The sight of the crowd, the choreographed cheers accompanied by the thunderous pummeling of drums, and the deafening roars can only mean loyalty, commitment and dedication to the efforts and goals of the school.
Athletic leagues among schools may be perceived by some as venues for school advertisement and popularity. For some, they are a business strategy for profitability. It is quite pitiable if one joins for such reasons. Sports competitions are for the rejuvenation of the school spirit.
Jesus Jay Miranda, OP is the secretary general of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). He holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management (ELM) and teaches at the Graduate School of UST and the ELM Department of the Bro. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC–College of Education of De La Salle University-Manila. Contact him at jaymiranda.op@ust.edu.ph.
The post School spirit appeared first on The Manila Times Online.