Kids •  Teachers •Parents • Athletes

and The Rules of the Game:

Copyright © 2024, Jonathan Goldin, LICSW; J.D.

Series Introduction

This proposal speaks in the voices of children, parents, teachers, and athletes about the basic rules of civilized behavior. These principles are taught to children as young as five, in simple language, generally by parents and teachers and are supposed to be internalized for a lifetime (good luck with that!!).

I’m calling this series: The Rules of the Game

This outline should inspie these sectors and more to step up and reinforce these values: • producers of broadcast and social media • educators • parents •.athletes • law enforcement • military • religious and civic leaders • leaders in electoral and issue-oriented politics • managers and executives in the corporate sector • .

Any group that aspires to living by these rules and speak the truth in the simple and direct manner of children should step up to protect democracy and a democratic culture.

There is no debate anywhere in the world about these principles; there are no two legitimate sides. This is a “no brainer”.

When adults with power, violate all these Rules of the Game with impunity, we are initially shocked, alarmed, and distressed. Unfortunately, many citizens eventually become inured to these outrages, and come down with a bad case of hopelessness. Others begin to believe that these violations are the natural way of doing things in a complex and conflicted world.

The principles at hand are framed in a way to illustrate the universal consensus that they must be taught and taught early. These rules hold no favor based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality or political ideology, but in practice they present hard choices which we all face.

These prohibitions include:  bullying, cheating, lying, changing the rules, intimidating, threatening, scapegoating, bigotry, and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Yet these are the tactics of anti-democratic forces, which are increasing across the world and in the USA. This YouTube video series will lend its moral weight to the struggle.

Question:

What do Kids, Teachers, Parents, and Athletes call those who won’t accept losing?

Answer:

SORE LOSERS!!!  They think they have to win every time.  My brother is like that and my mother tells him to stop. But he doesn’t listen to her or to me when I call him a SORE LOSER!

Question: What does he do to show he’s a Sore Loser?

Answer: He makes fun of the other team.  

Question:

What does your team do at the end of your Little League games? If you win or lose?

Answer:

The losing team and the winning team congratulate each other. We all walk in a line and go past the other team and give a “high five”. You know what I mean?  It feels good to do it, whether you win or lose.

Question:

Is it ever fair to try to change the rules during a game or competition?

Answer: That’s a stupid question. Oh sorry, my teacher says it’s not right to use that word. No it’s Not Fair!

Question:

Are adults supposed to live by these rules when they play sports or at work?

Answer:

Absolutely! And they try to teach us!

Question: Do you remember how old you were when your parents or teachers first tried to teach you?

Answer: Really young. Before I started school. Before I played sports.

Question:

What do we call this way of showing respect for the other team?

Answer:

I don’t know what you call it. I just know it’s the right thing to do

My Answer: That’s a good answer. It’s called Sportsmanlike conduct.

Question: Are these only for sports?

Answer: No it’s for everything even playing video games. And with your family too.

Question: What’s a Team Player?

Answer: A team player doesn’t just play for himself—she plays for the whole team!

Question: And what do you call someone who’s not a Team Player?

Answer: A selfish bragger. My Dad calls them egomaniacs Not sure if I said that right.

Question: What about bullies in school or in Sports?

Answer: We all hate them. They’re mean and mess things up for everyone else.

Question: How do you stop them?

Answer: We tell the teacher or our Coach. But if that doesn’t work we all get together and tell him to STOP!

Question: And what do you say to a bully?

Answer: “Why don’t you pick on somebody your own size!”

Question: Who do bullies usually pick on?

Answer:  Someone who doesn’t have lots of friends. They might even be handicapped or a minority person.

Question: Are you sometimestoo scared to stop a bully?

Answer:  Yes cuz they’re usually big and mean and always threaten someone else.