On Caps, Cups and Badges

Still sorting out boxes of old photographs in an attempt to make more space. I came across the top two photographs, which I'd never seen before. My grandmother had kept them them, they're photos of a cup I was awarded at the age of seven, at the XIV School in Bristol. The cup was given for the "Best All-Rounder", I must have been proud, because I still remember the sense of achievement.

Not many years later, at around the age of twelve, I won my First Eleven Cricket Colours, a cap with a dolphin badge, at my school in Somerset. Again I felt proud: like a little hero for a day.

Educationists are divided about the encouragement of competition and achievement. The giving of stars, colours and badges, let alone the ranking of children in 'form orders', can have a negative effect on other children, it is sometimes argued.

It seems we are stuck with examinations, with honours, gongs, medals and other badges of achievement (ie in the Boy Scouts). In this year of the London Olympics there will be endless discussion of gold, silver and bronze medals.

We would all do well to remember our failures as well as our successes. I haven't kept any photos of the failures. Have you?