To the headline:
Because they’re serious about academics.
Vijay Singh in golf.
I have to say these spelling bees are questionable. The most arcane and useless of words are what it takes to win. But that is what is used to weed out the less-proficient spellers. Maybe these bees should be discontinued because of the nature of the words used.
We would know a lot more about human potential if we could do actual testing for intelligence and other human qualities, without worrying that scientific proof might be found that some demographic groups are inferior in some areas (academics and self-control) while perhaps being superior in other areas (jumping and running).
The fear of knowing holds us back.
Hard work.
What's wrong with these people? Why are they wasting their time developing academic skills which will lead them to a lifetime prosperity in a myriad of professional fields when they could be playing football or basketball?
Practicalities. How many high school/college sports players go on to make it in the pros?
How likely am I to get a good job if I’m a whiz at math/science/medicine/engineering?
Legal immigrants come to make their family a better life. The way to do it is through education.
Consider the names.
Say, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
You’d get good at spelling too.
Even a peasant can become a king.
Indians figured out going ghetto and trying to be like Blacks, lots of athletes minimal academics, is a road to failure. They went as with other Asian groups went the Jewish route and succeed. Too bad Hispanics are going the ghetto grievance route.
Smart people tend to respect disciplines that involve intelligence—and to believe in their ability to do well in them.
Oh, and rote learning, discipline, and competition have traditionally been critical to academic and professional success in their home lands as well.
The two Pittsburgh Pirates guys. The million-dollar arms.
Academic discipline in the HOME.
I sense a case of disparate impact here. Somebody call the DOJ.
I think Indian families focus on the importance of academics, and that’s a good thing.
As for spelling bees, the truth is that they require no intelligence, creativity, or original thinking. They’re primarily contests of memorization, discipline, and endurance. All three can be trained with minimal investment. Spelling contests are comparatively easy, provided the person has the basic tools and develops then.
Must be the Indian equivalent of the Chinese Tiger Mom.
Disciplining ones children is considered child abuse in America.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/news/2016/05/25/geo-bee/01-national-geographic-bee-winner.ngsversion.1464199898023.jpg
The same reasons that Asians thrive in the very same schools that Blacks fail enmass in.
I can’t go into details, because that would be racist and politically-incorrect, doncha know.
They probably learned to spell using phonics.