When someone wins first place, they do not want a participation trophy, they want a first-place trophy because they earned it. In both passages “Participation Trophies Send a Dangerous Message,” by Betty Berden and “Participation Trophies Send a Powerful Message,” by Parker Abate, they both argue the subject, but they both have different standings. Some people say that participation trophies are a good thing, however that could not be farther from the truth because what value do trophies hold if the winners and the losers get the same ones? In “Participation Trophies Send a Dangerous Message” by Betty Berden, she argues that participation trophies send the wrong message to the children of today. Which is true, if everyone receives a trophy …show more content…
first place trophies for the year. In Abate’s text, he says, “Self-esteem is a big part of one’s childhood. Watching a peer receive a trophy and not receiving one yourself can be degrading. Any kind of honor can make a young kid feel as if he or she meant something to the team, and that could boost the child’s self-confidence.” This shows that even though they were not the best it is still important to make them feel that they were a part of the team and appreciated. Participation trophies also show the children that if you work together, you can do a whole lot. In the text it says, “Let us give the winners a trophy and the participants a certificate or give them all small trophies”. These kids dedicate time, effort, and enthusiasm, and they deserve to have something tangible to make them feel that their participation was worthwhile.” This is beneficial because it helps the children establish some confidence and helps them feel a part of the team that they worked hard to be in. Finally, with the evidence provided, while participation trophies are pointless and send the wrong message, they are still beneficial to a young child's