Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How to Be a Beekeeper (ESPN.com takes swipe at homeschooled Spelling Bee contestants)
ESPN.com ^ | 6/2/2005 | Darren Rovell

Posted on 06/02/2005 12:55:33 AM PDT by baseballfanjm

ESPN.com ran this article, intending for it to be an amusing take on how to predict the winner of the National Spelling Bee. However, the last "formula" irked me.

Here's what it says:

"Stay away from home-schooled kids.

It goes without saying that these kids don't get out of the house much. There are 34 home-schooled competitors in this year's bee, including speller No. 142 Jack Ausick and speller No. 217 Benjamin Zachary Walter. The first home schooler won in 1997 and others followed, including Lala in '99 and Thampy in 2000. But kids that actually interact with other children at school have won three out of the last four bees."

While he has other "stay away from" picks that fit the joking manner of the article, that one struck me as just lame and as a swipe more than a joke.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cary; espn; homeschool; liberalmedia; spellingbee
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 221-240241-260261-280281-291 last
To: Modernman

I disagree with you on this.

Your own school system (Montgomery County MD) has one of the more liberal curriculum available in this country. If you want your child steeped in liberal mumbo jumbo (as opposed to fact-based education) and homosexuality is normal education, by all means send them to public school there.

In my experience, many of the successful doctor/lawyer/CEO parents are too busy with their own work and social life to pay attention to such things as the specific curriculum used in the classroom. They're more concerned about the social opportunities available to the kids. Additionally, the IB curriculum pushed as the highest standard in this country is filled with pseudo-science and socialist agendas, courtesy of its sponsor, the U.N.

Good luck with all that. Just ask yourself one question - why do so many wealthy families vote democrat/socialist ? It all goes back to the curriculum.


281 posted on 06/06/2005 7:01:52 AM PDT by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 225 | View Replies]

To: Modernman

If you go to the PA Dept of Ed website and search on literacy you will see these numbers.

Go to http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/state_reports/PennsylvaniaProgressReport.pdf
and read page 4 in particular. 48% on this particular test in PA scored below basic. Only 21% of students finished a college-prep curriculum.

Sorry, PA is not composed of 48% new immigrants who don't speak English. The immigrant issue is another myth promoted by the NEA and the school establishment to hide these numbers. You cannot put lipstick on a pig.

This report is an eye-opener, as are many similar research studies. You should become more acquainted with the research and less with the feel-good statements put out by school/teacher establishment PR departments.

BTW, ever wonder why schools 20 years ago didn't need PR departments, and now they all have them ? Could it mean a positive spin has to be put on a deteriorating situation ? Hmmm.


282 posted on 06/06/2005 7:22:33 AM PDT by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 280 | View Replies]

To: cinives
Your own school system (Montgomery County MD) has one of the more liberal curriculum available in this country.

I actually live in DC, so the school district here is even worse than pretty much any other you can think of, but change seems to be in the air.

If you want your child steeped in liberal mumbo jumbo (as opposed to fact-based education)

The proof is in the pudding. Look at the rate of college attendance for kids in Montgomery County and get back to me on whether or not that school district is failing its students.

and homosexuality is normal education, by all means send them to public school there.

That part of the curriculum wouldn't bother me.

In my experience, many of the successful doctor/lawyer/CEO parents are too busy with their own work and social life to pay attention to such things as the specific curriculum used in the classroom. They're more concerned about the social opportunities available to the kids.

Sure. They, like me, are more concerned about their kids getting into a good university and being successful in life. If the school system is doing that, a little silliness involving a cucumber and condoms is really just a side issue.

Just ask yourself one question - why do so many wealthy families vote democrat/socialist ?

Depends on where you are. Around here, many of the wealthy families have a financial stake in maintaining the socialism in America.

283 posted on 06/06/2005 7:26:44 AM PDT by Modernman ("Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." -Bismarck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 281 | View Replies]

To: MikeyA5150
I was recently made aware of a problem at the middle school near our home, that our children (who are only 3 and 5 right now) would eventually attend if we planned to stay in this area (we do not - we are putting our house up for sale and hope to buy in an exclusive community association in the country as soon as my newest blessing is born).

Within just 5 years, our peaceful and safe neighborhood has seen some bad element move in and they are making things unpleasant. We are organizing a crime watch and have been alerting the police on a weekly basis, but we are receiving very little support from them so far.

It seems that gangs have infiltrated the high school, and are encroaching on the middle school kids. They are trying to push drugs into the middle school and are harrassing young girls, in particular, to exchange sex for drugs. Gang related violence, against individuals and in groups, has become more commonplace. Just two months ago, a 15 year old boy who resisted a gang leader's pressure to deal drugs got his head blown off. There is now a uniform police officer stationed at the school year round.

This is not the type of "diversity" I want my children exposed to. This is not the type of fun, growing experience that I remember, where folks brought in traditional deserts or wore the costumes of their ancestors. This is a sick, criminal element that will feel the wrong end of my weapon if they push themselves or their evil on my children.

Thankfully, we have the resources available to leave this area and move to a better one; but for many of our neighbors, this is not the case. Several of them, out of concern for their children's welfare, are now homeschooling.

284 posted on 06/06/2005 7:28:08 AM PDT by TheWriterTX (Proud Retosexual Wife of 12 Years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: cinives
48% on this particular test in PA scored below basic.

Sure, but does that mean they are functionally illiterate? I didn't see anything in that article to that effect.

285 posted on 06/06/2005 7:29:30 AM PDT by Modernman ("Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." -Bismarck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 282 | View Replies]

To: MikeyA5150

You are an ignorant a$$hole. I will not waste my time arguing with the you or the likes of you.


286 posted on 06/06/2005 7:38:11 AM PDT by gedeon3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Modernman

Yes - you are correct, they don't explain that in this report, they assume you have some knowledge of PA terminology :)

Dumb, huh ? To understand their definitions read this:
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/a_and_t/site/default.asp?g=0&a_and_tNav=%7C630%7C&k12Nav=%7C1141%7C
Even then they don't come out and say it plainly, but the below basic definition is a non-reader for all practical purposes.


287 posted on 06/06/2005 8:43:26 AM PDT by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 285 | View Replies]

To: Modernman
The proof is in the pudding. Look at the rate of college attendance for kids in Montgomery County and get back to me on whether or not that school district is failing its students.

Sure, on the surface it all looks good. You need to look a bit deeper. Attendance means little when standards are so low and colleges must first remediate. http://www.collegeboundnews.com/03-04issues/mar04.html Read this, do some more research, then get back to me.

Depends on where you are. Around here, many of the wealthy families have a financial stake in maintaining the socialism in America.

I totally agree with you on this one. Sad, really, that these people have such a short term view. The lesson of history is that the influence of wealth leaves the family after the 3rd generation and many of the heirs become irrelevant nonentities with big trust funds, getting their jollies from drugs, alcohol and mindless activities. I guess your definition of success and mine are a lot different. As Germany, Russia, and other once-proud countries show, socialism brings everyone down, including the wealthy.

288 posted on 06/06/2005 8:58:02 AM PDT by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 283 | View Replies]

To: dandelion; MikeyA5150

I also think what has happened over the years is a slight Orewllian change of definitions. Home-schoolers who respect their parents, use manners, actually can remember what they were taught, have a profound comprehension of right and wrong, do not stud any part of the body with metallic objects, are free of tattoos, wear decent and good clothes and know how to dressetc., are now looked at as not the norm. On the other hand, people expect children to be disrespectful, have metallic studs pierced throughout their bodies, have tattoos, self-centered, worshippers of their own ignorance, etc., are looked at as normal.


289 posted on 06/06/2005 9:20:16 AM PDT by 7thson (I think it takes a big dog to weigh a hundred pounds!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: baseballfanjm
For an article that was supposed to have a sense of humor, why did the last entry resort have to take a swipe at homeschoolers?

Because there are a lot of people at ESPN who aren't nearly as funny as they think they are.

290 posted on 06/06/2005 9:22:12 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Ah, spring. Such as it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: latina4dubya
Yes time spent in public school is artificial; you will never encounter it again (thank God!)

Those bells ringing are like Pavlov's dog learning to salivate at the sound! I refuse to have some bell tell my children when they have to stop being interested in a subject they enjoy!

291 posted on 06/10/2005 6:21:42 PM PDT by Constitution1st (Never, never, never quit - Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 258 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 221-240241-260261-280281-291 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson