Well-stated.
A goal of "excellence" is a very different thing than an environment which fosters brutality/cut-throat competition among peers in the name of "wins" instead.
Sums up perfectly why we've walked away from some activities and why, even as busy as we are, we're willing to give 110% to others. Those programs that are about making kids better people are very rare these days. It's worth volunteering to see to it that they continue; I see that as paying it forward.
It's really-- REALLY-- important to us as a family to not give even our tacit support to dysfunction/toxicity, too. For us, that has become something of a hill to die on, though, because it touches upon our core values as people. I realize that it isn't that way for everyone (and I really don't judge what is most important for others). In the situation described by the OP, we'd probably feel conflicted because walking away from lies/dysfunction would be in conflict with "stand your ground," (another core value).
