The Academics/Sports Balance

When I was growing up, academics was king, and children who weren't good at "studies" had a hard time, irrespective of any other talent they had. Children were ranked on marks they got in classroom tests in conventional subjects. Beyond the first few rankers, the others were routinely hauled over coals by teachers. School-life was pretty miserable for most children.

Over the years, educators started to realize the futility of their "academics-only" approach --  the impact it had on the psychology of the many (after all, only a few can be academic toppers). Education started to become more inclusive. Educators began to talk about "all-rounders" -- children who study and play and do art, or some combination of the three. 

Now,  it seems to me that the pendulum has swung too hard in the opposite direction. While academics are no longer overtly competitive, at least in primary schools, sport continues to be VERY competitive, separating losers from winners: publicly recognizing and rewarding the top 3 only. So how does this impact the psychology of the academically inclined, but not naturally sporty children? Their doing brilliantly at, say, math. is not really recognized because of the conscious toning down of focus on competition in the classroom. However, if they aren't into sport, this lack of "sportiness" comes into sharp focus because the sports field continues to be VERY competitive, even in school.

What happens to the self-esteem of a child who is, say, a whizkid at math. but misses hitting the target with his ball throws, and then has his classmates jeering about it? What is the message we are sending to him and his peers? It seems to me that the message is: even if you do badly in academics, you MUST do well in sports. Isn't this same message of the yesteryear with the words academics and sports interchanged?

IMO, what we need is a balance, and recognition of the fact that each child is truly unique. While we have stopped hauling a potential Tendulkar over coals for his math. grade, can we also stop pushing the future-Einsteins to train for professional cricket?