No Contest, which has been stirring up controversy since its publication in 1986, stands as the definitive critique of competition. _ No Contest_ makes a powerful case that “healthy competition” is a contradiction in terms.
Learning is essentially a social, collaborative, problem-solving activity. People learn best through interactions with others, and these interactions strengthen both community and individuals. The work of the world gets done in groups. We form our own understandings through a multiplicity of interactions, and draw continuously upon the thinking of countless earlier generations.
If we don’t understand the issues, we can’t take effective action.
Many of us have a feeling that that something is wrong in education and that reform based on higher standards, improving student achievement tests and a back to basics approach will not fix it. But what exactly is the problem – and what kind ofchange is really needed to encourage innovative thinking, increase the motivation to learn or to help all children reach their full potential as engaged, happy and productive adults?
