Our fine schools at work....

[NeverEnufWDW]

Spelling bee nixed because it 'leaves child behind'
District cancels event claiming it conflicts with Bush education plan

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=4259

(I'm not sure why the link doesn't work sometimes - the article is on Page 1 news of the site. Basically, a school district in RI cancelled its annual spelling bee because the new assistant superintendent of schools claim that such events do not follow the "No student left behind" mantra)

Is it any wonder America's schools have been in decline for the few decades ?
Its no wonder with administrators like the one in the article "running" things.

Let's just stop all competition in schools. Kids shouldn't play sports in school because there is always a loser. Grades need to go to -- we couldn't possibly gives SOME students As while others get Bs and Cs.

This kind of stuff happens because people pay little to no attention to who is being elected to local and district school boards and who is being placed in top administrator positions.

I currently live outside of the country but really fear for my DD when we eventually return and have to put her into the system.

Maybe its just me and I am just so out of touch. Does anyone else out there feel that these philosophies are hurting future generations ?

 

[holycow]

link didn't work for me...

There is always homeschooling if you are concerned.

HC

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Just a note: teachers don't "give" students grades, they earn them.

 

[TimeforMe]

There is always homeschooling if you are concerned.

HC

To the OP: No you are not alone. NCLB is probably one of the worst things to happen to public education in a long time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with healthy competition. This spelling bee is just another example of political correctness gone awry.

 

[Doctor P]

Your target is wrong. Look to Washington to explain some of this.

 

[ericamanda01]

Yet another example why my children will attend private school. It's so sad. I can remember growing up and my public school was a job that you had to work at. Not just something you could skate through.

 

[wasabi girl]

Where did the idea that academic competition was harmful originate? It sure doesn't seem to be affecting any of the athletic competitions! When I was in school we all knew who the "smart"kids were anyway, bet they still do.

 

[Karel]

The Junior Membership of the Women's Club, to which I belong, holds a State wide spelling bee every spring in NJ. My friend is a teacher and is totally against the spelling bee. Says its unsound educationally. I think that's ridiculous. Some kids are very good spellers and it might be their only time to shine. We argue about it all the time.

 

[RitaZ.]

Spelling bee nixed because it 'leaves child behind'
District cancels event claiming it conflicts with Bush education plan
Posted: January 28, 2005
5:00 p.m. Eastern


© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

A school district in Rhode Island canceled its annual spelling bee this year because administrators decided the crowning of only one winner violates the main principle of the federal No Child Left Behind Act – that all children should succeed.


Competitor in Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee finals in Washington last June. (Photo: National Spelling Bee)

Linda Newman, assistant superintendent of schools in Lincoln, R.I., said it's her understanding that President Bush's education initiative says all children must reach high standards, which conflicts with the spelling bee, the Woonsocket Call of Rhode Island reported.

"It's about one kid winning, several making it to the top and leaving all others behind," Newman said of the competition, which culminates with the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. "That's contrary to No Child Left Behind."

A spelling bee, she continued, is about "some kids being winners, some kids being losers," which "sends a message that this isn't an all-kids movement."

The competition pits students in 4th through 8th grade against each other in a district round, with the winner advancing to a state playoff and the chance to move on to the national finals in Washington.

Newman said she and the district's elementary school principals made a unanimous decision to cancel their local competition shortly after the January 2004 event, agreeing that a spelling bee does not meet the criteria of all children reaching high standards, the Woonsocket paper said.

She argues that professional organizations now encourage elementary school children to participate in activities that avoid winners and losers, which is why sports teams have been eliminated for that age group.

Building self-esteem is the emphasis.

"You have to build positive self-esteem for all kids, so they believe they're all winners," Newman told the Call. "You want to build positive self-esteem so that all kids can get to where they want to go."

Karen Adams, a news anchorwoman for local WPRI-TV, said she will miss covering the event.

Adams told the paper she's not familiar with the specifics of the No Child Left Behind Act but can't figure out why it has anything to do with a spelling bee.

"It was just a fun time," Adams said.

Winning a spelling bee "just meant you were a good speller."

"It was fun for the kids because it gave them poise and confidence to stand in front of a crowd," she said.

School Committee Chairman Jeff Weiss told the paper he was unaware the event had been cancelled. But Newman said the cancellation is an administrative decision that does not require committee approval.

Karen Martin, the mother of last year's winner, Brianna, called the cancellation "strange."

Her daughter benefited from the experience, she told the Call, overcoming nervousness to advance to the state competition.

"I'm disappointed," she said. "I thought it was a fun activity.

Are these administrators DERANGED? I would be requesting a meeting with the Superintendent and going before the School Board to challenge and question their moronic decision. This is obviously how these school administrators have chosen to interpret the spelling bee's winner/loser guidelines in relation to the NCLB Act, there has to be an ulterior motive behind their twisted decision and interpretation. Reaching high standards does NOT mean that every child must be a winner or earn identical grades/awards. These morons have only succeeded in removing an opportunity for students to excel, they are actually going against what NCLB is all about. One thing is for certain, those administrators lack common sense and you don't have to look to Washington to explain that!

Unbelievable!!!

 

[Pinnie]

Your target is wrong. Look to Washington to explain some of this.

AMEN, Doctor P.

pinnie

 

[RitaZ.]

To the OP: No you are not alone. NCLB is probably one of the worst things to happen to public education in a long time.

I have heard several people say this, but I really want to know why NCLB is so bad for public education. From what I have read and seen in my children's schools, I don't think that it's as horrible as some say. I just want an honest opinion/explanation.

 

[Charade]

Interestingly enough, I was reading a NCLB overview for my state (PA) and it said that students that complete the summer reading achievers program will receive prizes and certificates. How this superintendent came the conclusion that winning a spelling be goes against the NCLB act is beyond me. As far as I know, preparing for a spelling bee competition is not the same as preparing for a math test as it's not part of the regular curriculum. I would consider a spelling bee the same as football or band/cheerleading competition.

 

[rascalmom]

Spelling Bees were done away with in my kid's school well before NCLB. Too afraid of little bruised egos & upset parents. How can we expect our children to grow up and compete in the global market place if they can't even take a little competition in the classroom?

 

[Beth76]

You know, there is such a thing as too much self-esteem.

 

[MariettaC]

In my experience school boards and administrators bend to the wishes of the parents and community members .

 

[powellrj]

I am helping my DS study for his spelling bee and I don't think its NCLB that is causing them to cancel, I'll bet its because no one is able to pronounce the words from the book to give the bee!! We have been working on the advanced words and I am not sure how to pronounce many of these words! Dh was giving me a hard time about it, so I made him do it for awhile, its not easy!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

I was so surprised when I scrolled down and read the entire article!! My children went to elementary school in this district.

I think this is taking the "no child left behind" way too far - the bottom line is that real life is made up of competitions - when you go for a job interview they don't hire every candidate so that no one is "left out" - I believe that all children should have the same educational opportunities available to them but what they do from there is up to them.

In my opinion public or private school your childs education is only as good as the interest that you as a parent put into it.

 

[Blondy876]

This idea of non compatition starts at a very early age. In my classroom we are not allowed to play simple games that might leave a child out. No musical chairs, unless we leave all the chairs there so that each child has one, no relay races, nothing that might make a child "feel bad". These are regulations dictated by the district, there isn't anything I can do about. I have expressed my concerns to the head of the district and it makes no difference. I don't understand this issue with compatition, I thought wanting to be the best at something was usually a good thing.

 

[nuke]

I think it's another example of dumbing down to the lowest common denominator. Ridiculous! and why my son attends private school. It's a financial sacrifice but I don't like what I see in the public schools.

 

[Evil Princess]

Yet another example why my children will attend private school. It's so sad. I can remember growing up and my public school was a job that you had to work at. Not just something you could skate through.

If it makes you feel any better, I just graduated two years ago, and I did NOT skate through school. My public school was so difficult, our regents graduation diploma rate was at 96%.

I go to a college where the average SAT this year is 1290, yet high school was more difficult for me than any of my college assignments.