L- I- N- D -A N- E- W- M- A- N
Lincoln school superintendent, Linda Newman, in consultation with her district principals in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has cancelled this year's annual spelling bee because:
A spelling bee is about "some kids being winners, some kids being losers."
As a result, the spelling bee "sends a message that this isn’t an all-kids movement," Newman said.
Furthermore: The emphasis today, she said, is on building self-esteem in all students.
Ok, back the truck up. Today's emphasis is not on learning, in this case learning to spell, but in feeling good about yourself no matter what? No wonder the NEA hates the No Child Left Behind Act, they're doing feel good stuff and the NCLB act expects children to be educated. What's next on the list of eliminations, track meets? Only one winner there too. Oh, wait...already happened...
Professional organizations now frown on competition at the elementary school level and are urging participation in activities that avoid winners, Newman said. That’s why there are no sports teams at the elementary level, she said as an example. How do you spell a word which means incredulous? U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E
I got a note not long ago from a classmate who told me the highlight of her school days was when she won the sixth grade spelling bee. She knew I'd remember the event because I was runner-up that year. "Losing" didn't leave a permanent psychological scar, but lack of competition would have left both of us barren of a fond memory.
Posted by: Stephen | January 28, 2005 at 02:29 PM
I have to agree with Stephen's remarks. I was always the spelling bee loser -- always. It become a family joke and we thought it rather funny till I won the spelling bee my final year of grade school. Both the losses and the win were great experiences and it is ridiculous to take this rite of passage away from those children.
Posted by: katie | January 28, 2005 at 04:25 PM
As the mother of a 14 year old, I have seen this mentality repeatedly throughout his school years. Competition is good and healthy. How many years of counseling will it take when these children find out they can't win every time?
Posted by: Lori | January 29, 2005 at 12:14 AM
As an educator, I am disappointed by Ms. Newman's decision to cancel the spelling bee. Using a lame interpretation of the NCLB legislation is just as disappointing. Although I disagree with some components of the NCLB legislation, I do not recall reading anywhere that the lack of competition will keep the system from leaving any children behind. The least Ms. Newman could have done is state that taking time out of the student's academic time to participate 15-20 minutes for a spelling bee would have been detrimental to her students' future performance. Makes me wonder if her school system is being left behind...
Posted by: The Mean Sister (who is 5'6") | January 29, 2005 at 11:23 AM