Saratoga News

Are we falling into the trophy trap?

By Keith Lindstrom

The recent cheating scandal at Saratoga High School is one of those events in the life of a local community that touches us right on a community nerve. Ouch! Kids caught cheating at Saratoga High! One can almost hear the accusations begin to fly: "How could this happen? What's wrong with our kids? Whatever happened to character?"

As with so many media issues, however, there is a story behind the story. The cheating incident certainly points to a need for moral character in our young people, but it also points to a much larger body of painful issues that underlie the surface of Silicon Valley culture for students and adults alike--issues like excessive busyness, competition, workaholism, neglected family time and stagnant moral and spiritual values. These issues may seem to be the exclusive domain of adults, but it is becoming increasingly clear that these issues now affect our children as much as they affect us.

Take Mary, for instance (not her real name). Mary is a high school junior who made an appointment to discuss something that was really bothering her. After chatting a bit, she got down to what was really on her mind.

"I'm so tired and burned out," she said, as tears began to flow. "I get up every day at 5:30 a.m. so I can study, and then I go to yearbook class at 7:15 a.m. I have school until 3:15 p.m., and then I go to practice or tutoring. I have events at least two evenings a week, plus my music and, of course, studying, if I get a chance. I'm also supposed to fit church youth group into that, along with my service project. My grades are falling below a 3.5 GPA, and my parents are totally on my case.

"But the worst part," she said, with a pause and more tears, "is behind all these activities, achievements and my incredible résumé, I'm really so lonely I can hardly stand it. The reality is I don't have any real close friends, and I'd give just about anything just for a chance to slow down and try to make a few good friends."

After a good cry and more talk, Mary began to get in touch with the needs that were driving her intense busyness, and by establishing some new priorities over the next few months, she began to enjoy some positive changes.

Mary is by no means alone in her feelings. Many students in the area, and in the nation, are struggling intensely with the issues of busyness, achievement, pressure and competition. They believe that the only way to succeed is through building the greatest résumé, participating in the most activities or earning the most trophies. Yet, often it is a trophy trap, and the price paid is neglected family and friends, and anemic moral/spiritual development. In this atmosphere, the temptation to cheat can become an irresistible option.

Perhaps part of the answer to all this is that we need to continue to learn from our Puritan ancestors. Silicon Valley has mastered the Puritan work ethic, which was developed by the Puritans out of a deep desire to be good stewards of the resources they believed that God had given them. What we need to continue to learn is the Puritan rest ethic as well.

While the Puritans were devoted to their work, they were also very devoted to family, community and their own moral/spiritual growth. For them, the rhythm of weekly life meant taking one day a week (the Christian Sunday sabbath) simply for rest, for God and for family. Throughout the week they were also meticulous about having times for community and for moral/spiritual growth. The result was communities that became well-known for their balance and navigated between the two extremes of overwork on the one hand and laziness on the other.

If there is something to be learned from the issue of cheating at Saratoga High School, it is that we once again need to regain our balance. Perhaps we have gone too far to the side of our work ethic, and have neglected the vital counterbalance of an effective rest ethic. And perhaps the way forward for an institution like Saratoga High School is to be found within its own history department and the study of our Puritan ancestors--to learn how to rest as well as how to work.

Keith Lindstrom is the associate pastor for youth and young adults at Saratoga Presbyterian Church.

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