During my travels around our overly-large school district, I came across a large banner hanging in the front hall of an elementary school declaring “The Race for Excellence Has No Finish Line”.

That sign has stuck with – and bothered – me for several reasons, but mostly because of the suggestion that excellence is a race. And in our competative culture, that implies a contest with someone (or something), resulting in one winner, and probably multiple losers.

Ok, I’m pretty sure that was not the intention of whoever created the message. They wanted a short, understandable concept to inspire the kids. The interpretation above could only be the product of my warped little head.

Certainly no 10-year-old would read it the same way, right?