Skip to comments.
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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-119 next last
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
2
posted on
01/28/2005 1:37:34 PM PST
by
TheBigB
(Ask Fierce Allegiance about his suck emergencies!)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
I think I'm going to throw up.
3
posted on
01/28/2005 1:37:51 PM PST
by
Bahbah
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
I wonder if these school administrators ever graduated from elementary school themselves?
4
posted on
01/28/2005 1:38:14 PM PST
by
Brilliant
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
"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."Why do I doubt that this was what the president had in mind...?
5
posted on
01/28/2005 1:38:18 PM PST
by
mewzilla
(Has CBS retracted the story yet?)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
By the same logic they should give all kids A's in every subject...doing anything else might hurt their self-esteem.
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Main reason to homeschool. Idiots are in charge of public education. Not saying they all are, just that many of them are, and anyone who reads this or the article the other day about the two boys being arrested for drawing stick figures can come to their own conclusions.
7
posted on
01/28/2005 1:39:53 PM PST
by
planekT
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Better cancel all sports, music, plays, and tests to name a few. Heck, just shut down all the public schools.
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
9
posted on
01/28/2005 1:40:24 PM PST
by
steveo
(Member: Fathers Against Rude Television)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
what a bunch of nut balls
10
posted on
01/28/2005 1:41:29 PM PST
by
Texas_Jarhead
(I believe in American Exceptionalism! Do you?)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Stupid, stupid Democrat NEA brain dead teachers. My brother WAS a principal and he thought this very thing. He's a great guy but is so gullible he really believed it.
To: planekT
I was going to say that the real reason has more to do with the fact that homeschoolers usually win these contests and show up the government school 'educators.'
12
posted on
01/28/2005 1:42:33 PM PST
by
SuzanneC
To: Constitutionalist Conservative; glock rocks; Squantos
No Child Left Behind = No Competition in life = Socialism
Not quite the Plan that American Patriots were wanting for our country but quite in line with the Homeland line of thinking.
13
posted on
01/28/2005 1:42:56 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
Next, they plan to eliminate all recesses and blame that on the "No Child Left Behind" program.
To: Indy Pendance
Heck, just shut down all the public schools.One of our district's financial people said the other day "The only way we could balance next year's budget is if we closed all of the schools." The news report ran in the morning and by noon, that quote was removed from the story.
15
posted on
01/28/2005 1:44:17 PM PST
by
steveo
(Member: Fathers Against Rude Television)
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
What's next? All kids will be given 'A's in school because they can't leave anyone behind?
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Just a bunch of publicity-hungry Leftist educators scoring (they think) cheap political points against the President. Cancel all competitions and then claim it's George W. Bush's fault. Never mind that it actually hurts the kids -- the kids are secondary to the political exercise.
Next we'll here how John Kerry has a plan to restart spelling bees.
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
IMO, the schools today are not teaching children how to deal with not always being the "winner". You must learn how to be a gracious loser. One can not always win, be picked first at a recess game, be included in every "popular" group, etc. It is this lack of teaching that contributes to horrible tragedies at schools and, later in life, at workplaces.
18
posted on
01/28/2005 1:45:25 PM PST
by
CAluvdubya
(From the RED part of California)
To: steveo
I'm all for it. No more NEA, Dept of Ed, taxes, etc. Schools should be strictly private, or opt to homeschool.
To: Constitutionalist Conservative
These are the idiots in charge of educating children???????????
20
posted on
01/28/2005 1:46:44 PM PST
by
OldFriend
(America's glory is not dominion, but liberty.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-119 next 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.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson