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School district cancels spelling bee (Check out the reason why they canceled it)
Woonsocket (RI) Call ^
| January 27, 2005
| Ronald R. Blais
Posted on 01/28/2005 1:36:32 PM PST by Constitutionalist Conservative
LINCOLN -- Karen Adams always enjoyed receiving her invitation. The WPRI-TV news anchorwoman and Lincoln resident looked forward to penciling in the school districts spelling bee in her appointment calendar.
But theres no note in her calendar this year. The Lincoln district has decided to eliminate this years spelling bee -- a competition involving pupils in grades 4 through 8, with each school district winner advancing to the state competition and a chance to proceed to the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C.
Through the years, it had become a tradition for Adams to pronounce and define spelling words used in the bee.
"It was just fun," she said last Monday from her office at the television studio.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Linda Newman said the decision to scuttle the event was reached shortly after the January 2004 bee in a unanimous decision by herself and the districts elementary school principals.
The administrators decided to eliminate the spelling bee, because they feel it runs afoul of the mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
"No Child Left Behind says all kids must reach high standards," Newman said. "Its our responsibility to find as many ways as possible to accomplish this."
The administrators agreed, Newman said, that a spelling bee doesnt meet the criteria of all children reaching high standards -- because there can only be one winner, leaving all other students behind.
"Its about one kid winning, several making it to the top and leaving all others behind. Thats contrary to No Child Left Behind," Newman said.
A spelling bee, she continued, is about "some kids being winners, some kids being losers."
As a result, the spelling bee "sends a message that this isnt an all-kids movement," Newman said.
Furthermore, professional organizations now frown on competition at the elementary school level and are urging participation in activities that avoid winners, Newman said. Thats why there are no sports teams at the elementary level, she said as an example.
The emphasis today, she said, is on building self-esteem in all students.
"You have to build positive self-esteem for all kids, so they believe theyre all winners," she said. "You want to build positive self-esteem so that all kids can get to where they want to go."
A spelling bee only benefits a few, not all, students, the elementary principals and Newman agreed, so it was canceled.
While she concedes shes not familiar with the specifics of No Child Left Behind, Adams, nevertheless, is befuddled by the school departments decision.
"I dont see where that (No Child Left Behind) has anything to do with a spelling bee. It was just a fun time," Adams said.
Winning a spelling bee, she added, "just meant you were a good speller."
One aspect she enjoyed about participating in her hometown spelling bee was the openness of the competition.
"Its not always the straight "A" student who wins the spelling bee," she said.
A spelling bee also is a chance for children to shine before their peers, family and friends, Adams points out.
"Its a big deal for the kids. Its a nice recognition for them," she said.
Competing in a spelling bee is also a learning experience, the anchorwoman believes. "It was fun for the kids because it gave them poise and confidence to stand in front of a crowd."
Adams admits shell miss the bee.
"I just loved the kids. They were so cute. My heart broke every time a kid missed," she said. "I really enjoyed it."
Adams wasnt the only one caught off guard by the spelling bees cancellation.
"I had no idea this (spelling bee) was called off," School Committee Chairman Jeff Weiss said last Friday.
The chairman reserved further comment until he could get more information. "I have no comment because I dont know whats going on," the chairman said.
Canceling the spelling bee is an administrative decision that doesnt require School Committee approval, Newman said.
Karen Martin, whose daughter, Brianna, won last years bee, said she was surprised the bee had been eliminated, describing its cancellation as "strange."
Although her daughter was nervous, Martin believes it was a good experience for Brianna. "It was exciting to go to the state competition," the mother said.
Like Adams, Martin said shell miss the bee.
"Im disappointed. I thought it was a fun activity," she said.
The administrators decision to eliminate the bee wasnt a difficult one, Newman said.
"There was no debate at all. It was one of the easiest decisions," the assistant superintendent said because "there was no question among the administrators" that a spelling bee was "contrary to the expectations" of No Child Left Behind.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: education; nclb
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To: aspiring.hillbilly
I guess I have to believe you're kidding.
sundero
41
posted on
01/28/2005 1:55:51 PM PST
by
brytlea
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Good grief! My family wonders why I homeschool. Here is a prime example of the people in control of the public school system. Don't teach your child to excel and be the best he can be. Teach him to be one of the crowd around the middle. Critism done in kindness does a lot more for a child's character than letting him always win.
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
I think it's probably because all the home-schooled or Indian students win all the time. Thankfully, in Texas we still have a chance for elementary school students to excel in all kinds of academic and sports competitions. That's what makes our kids great later on.
To: brytlea
BTW I played games in class, and {gasp} I actually let them win prizes! If you didn't study and didn't know any of the answers you didn't win anything. Kind of like real life. Huh? Aren't we basicaly saying the same thing here. Teach the children that not everyone wins every time? And how to handle it if you lose.
44
posted on
01/28/2005 1:57:37 PM PST
by
CAluvdubya
(From the RED part of California)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
A spelling bee, she continued, is about "some kids being winners, some kids being losers." As a result, the spelling bee "sends a message that this isnt an all-kids movement," Newman said.I will not be satisfied until liberals are collected and put into vast death camps that run night and day.
When this comes to pass, I will stand at the Arbet Macht Frei sign at the entrance and laugh at the losers inside.
Because they will have lost. And I will have won. This isn't an all-politics country.
45
posted on
01/28/2005 1:58:08 PM PST
by
Lazamataz
(Running around in a circle waving my arms and screaming like a little girl)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Ayn Rand is rolling in her grave.
46
posted on
01/28/2005 1:58:47 PM PST
by
Flightdeck
(Liberals see Saddam's mass graves as half full. I prefer to see them as half empty.)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
""Its about one kid winning, several making it to the top and leaving all others behind. Thats contrary to No Child Left Behind," Newman said. "
They are being sarcastic at the expense of the children. Liberals are all about emotional knee-jerk reactions and never about facts.
To: narby
49
posted on
01/28/2005 2:00:15 PM PST
by
cinives
(On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Something like this should never, EVER be posted without a serious self-esteem barf alert attached to it.
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
They should also cancel "administrators" as not everyone gets to be one of those idiots, either.
To: CAluvdubya
I'm sorry, yes, we are saing exactly the same thing!
I wasn't clear.
sundero
52
posted on
01/28/2005 2:00:51 PM PST
by
brytlea
To: brytlea
53
posted on
01/28/2005 2:01:53 PM PST
by
CAluvdubya
(From the RED part of California)
To: aspiring.hillbilly
Sorry, hillbilly, there are wimpy male school administrators who think the same way.
54
posted on
01/28/2005 2:02:18 PM PST
by
cinives
(On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
I've noticed lately that a lot of published books contain more and more spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.
55
posted on
01/28/2005 2:02:28 PM PST
by
Alouette
(Learned Mother of Zion)
To: All
I guess the DUM OLE RATS don't want to give anyone else a chance to look good. Sounds like a race based decision
56
posted on
01/28/2005 2:03:49 PM PST
by
Ibredd
To: narby
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Linda Newman said the decision to scuttle the event was reached shortly after the January 2004 bee in a unanimous decision by herself and the districts elementary school principals. Any pictures of these losers?
58
posted on
01/28/2005 2:04:50 PM PST
by
Cowboy Bob
(Fraud is the lifeblood of the Democratic Party)
To: livius
No Child Left Behind means that every community has a few public schools like Reno, Nevada. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served to all illegal immigrant children free of charge.
The standards have been dropping in public schools since the early sixties when politicians tried to figure out how to raise the graduation percentages of Blacks.
Illegals seem to have this knack for wanting out of high school in the 9th and 10th grades, so watch the standards drop some more.
Yes, socialism is invading our government offices faster than a snow storm can cover a state.
59
posted on
01/28/2005 2:05:16 PM PST
by
B4Ranch
(Don't remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
60
posted on
01/28/2005 2:05:31 PM PST
by
The Ghost of FReepers Past
(Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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