Isn't play just practice for adult life? If kids don't ever compete and think that higher authorities are just going to make everything "fair" for them, then they will be in for a rude awakening. Now, if one child is getting bullied verbally or physically, that is one thing. But a game of kickball...?

I remember four-square. It's not even that competitive. Some kids get stuck in the middle for a long time because they're not as fast as the others, but it doesn't cause lasting damage. I know, because I didn't really remember I was one of the stuck-in-the-middle kids until just now, reading this article. There were far worse traumas in my elementary-school years.

How about schools give up on limiting healthy competition and instead put those resources towards curbing unhealthy cruelty and bullying, things that can actually cause lasting psychological damage and loss of self-esteem to victims?