School Rivalry: How Much Is Too Much?

Essay by sara1521311High School, 11th gradeA+, April 2004

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Most schools try to convince their students to have more school spirit and to get them more excited about a rival game so the players play their best. But what happens when students take that rivalry too far? Most students see the taunting and name-calling happening right in front of their eyes, yet they say nothing about it. Sometimes, actually, they join in, and for what? Just because their opponents are from a different school and they want to win a game? What if one of the leaders of the crowds decides to take the rivalry a step up? They might abuse rival students. This causes rivalry to be taken too far.

Rivalry is supposed to be clean and fun competition, the need to succeed and be the best. Most people say it's good to have a rival because it pushes the athletes to perform better and have more school spirit.

The purpose of school rivalry is to open doors with other schools. In fact, the definition of rivalry is the act of competing or emulating (High School Rivalries). But lately, another kind of rivalry added to the game, one that hurts other people physically and is destructive.

When students are asked about their rivals at various schools, they said that they hate them. They make fun of them, call them names, and they criticize each other, all just because they are rivals (Xaun). Megan Rosenquist, a student from Notre Dame, recalled the big basketball game played between Notre Dame and Central that took place at the Show Me Center. She remembers a stuffed tiger that was being thrown around and that had a noose tied to its neck. She said that she saw the stuffing coming out of its stomach from somebody trying to tear the tiger up...