Scripps National Spelling Bee - Jumped The Shark?

[soccerdad72]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/92nd-s...ing-bee-declares-8-cochampions-042545095.html
In case you missed it last night - there were 8 co-winners of the bee, due to a rule that anyone still remaining after 20 rounds would be declared co-winners. Obviously, the bee couldn't go on forever, so at some point they have to cut it off, but it seems as if it's gotten to the point where the kids can pretty much spell any word they can throw at them.

None of this is to take away what is an amazing achievement, but these kids are robots these days, making the spelling bee kind of pointless if everyone is going to still be standing by the end of the competition.

Thoughts?

 

[Kellykins1218]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/92nd-s...ing-bee-declares-8-cochampions-042545095.html
In case you missed it last night - there were 8 co-winners of the bee, due to a rule that anyone still remaining after 20 rounds would be declared co-winners. Obviously, the bee couldn't go on forever, so at some point they have to cut it off, but it seems as if it's gotten to the point where the kids can pretty much spell any word they can throw at them.

None of this is to take away what is an amazing achievement, but these kids are robots these days, making the spelling bee kind of pointless if everyone is going to still be standing by the end of the competition.

Thoughts?

Those kids spelled their butts off. Good for them!

 

[dominiondad]

If you have 8 winners, you have 0 winners. They say a tie is like kissing your sister. In this case, you're appearently kissing your entire family. If that many contestants can spell every word imaginable, then its no longer a contest, its a demonstration. Something needs to be done to weed some of the kids out. Otherwise, it's meaningless.
My suggestions for making it more difficult:
1. Don't limit the spelling to English words, use words from the most common 20 languages.
2. In the later rounds, don't allow the kids to ask for definitions, root, origin, etc.
3. Shorten the clock
4. Dodgeball

 

[Cindy's Mom]

If you ain't first, you're last - Reese Bobby.
words to live by.

 

[L&Lfan]

Participation trophies. It’s come down to that...

 

[Kellykins1218]

Participation trophies. It’s come down to that...

 

[sam_gordon]

If you have 8 winners, you have 0 winners. They say a tie is like kissing your sister. In this case, you're appearently kissing your entire family. If that many contestants can spell every word imaginable, then its no longer a contest, its a demonstration. Something needs to be done to weed some of the kids out. Otherwise, it's meaningless.
My suggestions for making it more difficult:
1. Don't limit the spelling to English words, use words from the most common 20 languages.
2. In the later rounds, don't allow the kids to ask for definitions, root, origin, etc.
3. Shorten the clock
4. Dodgeball

I agree. Say after round 15, take the clock to 1:45 (or 1:30, whatever). Every round after that subtract 5 seconds. That will take care of #2 also. Every question eats up more of the time.

Or change the "after 20" to "after 50".

 

[RedAngie]

I like the suggestion about including foreign language words, maybe after Round 10.

This reminds of a story from about 10 years ago where a Florida high school had about a dozen valedictorians.

I was the 3rd grade Spelling Bee champion at St. Adalbert Catholic school in 1970, but all I received as a prize was a illustration of the Virgin Mary. Oh, and my name, as well as the names of the other grade winners, was posted on the bulletin board in the school lobby.

 

[mjkacmom]

Participation trophies. It’s come down to that...

And a $50,000 scholarship, they are all thrilled with their trophy.

 

[soccerdad72]

And a $50,000 scholarship, they are all thrilled with their trophy.

The kids actually seemed surprised (rightfully so) when they told them they each got the $50,000 prize. I'm guessing most of them thought they would be splitting it 8 ways. Scripps probably doesn't budget for $400,000 in prize money though.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

They should make those weak-willed, lilly-livered, snowflake kids stand there until there is one winner or they start fainting from dehydration!

Why, when I was their age, I walked to school in 6 feet of snow, up hill, both ways, every day! While having 2 part time jobs!

I tell ya, this country is doomed! DOOOOOOOMED!

 

[Southernmiss]

I think it's a testament to the rigor and expectations that kids today are facing to succeed. And demonstrates what kids are doing to rise to that challenge.

The subjects and what kids in middle/high school today are expected to do are far advanced from what I was exposed to in school.

I stopped being able to help my kids with homework after about 4th grade.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Think about the thousands of kids who started the contest this year, at the school-wide, city-wide, regional, etc. levels. Every single one of those winners had to survive those initial rounds to even get to the finals. Then look at the group of kids who were eliminated in the top level. The large group sitting to the left were all eliminated. It came down to those eight, and not one was stumped by the extremely tough words that were thrown at them. Each one knew how to dissect the words, look for the roots, origins, definitions, etc. and come up with the correct spelling. Why does there have to be one winner? If all eight were up to the challenge presented, why can't all eight be named as champions?

 

[dominiondad]

Think about the thousands of kids who started the contest this year, at the school-wide, city-wide, regional, etc. levels. Every single one of those winners had to survive those initial rounds to even get to the finals. Then look at the group of kids who were eliminated in the top level. The large group sitting to the left were all eliminated. It came down to those eight, and not one was stumped by the extremely tough words that were thrown at them. Each one knew how to dissect the words, look for the roots, origins, definitions, etc. and come up with the correct spelling. Why does there have to be one winner? If all eight were up to the challenge presented, why can't all eight be named as champions?

There should be one winner/champion because that's what those words mean. Note that all of the below are singular.

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary -

winner
noun
win·ner | \ ˈwi-nər \
Definition of winner

: one that wins: such as
a : one that is successful especially through praiseworthy ability and hard work
b : a victor especially in games and sports
c : one that wins admiration
d : a shot in a court game that is not returned and that scores for the player making it

champion
noun
cham·pi·on | \ ˈcham-pē-ən \
Definition of champion
(Entry 1 of 2)
1: WARRIOR, FIGHTER
2: a militant advocate or defender
3: one that does battle for another's rights or honor
4: a winner of first prize or first place in competition also : one who shows marked superiority

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Participation trophies. It’s come down to that...

That is easily said. But the truth is, most of us wouldn't even last 3 rounds at finals level let alone 20. And to be honest, most dis posters wouldn't even qualify for nationals. Further, I doubt most dissers have any trophies that match a Spelling Bee national title. And before anyone says anything, that baseball national title from a little Indiana sports tourism town that has a national baseball tournament every week for anyone with the bucks to enter does not count as similar.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

There should be one winner/champion because that's what those words mean. Note that all of the below are singular.

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary -

winner
noun
win·ner | \ ˈwi-nər \
Definition of winner

: one that wins: such as
a : one that is successful especially through praiseworthy ability and hard work
b : a victor especially in games and sports
c : one that wins admiration
d : a shot in a court game that is not returned and that scores for the player making it

champion
noun
cham·pi·on | \ ˈcham-pē-ən \
Definition of champion
(Entry 1 of 2)
1: WARRIOR, FIGHTER
2: a militant advocate or defender
3: one that does battle for another's rights or honor
4: a winner of first prize or first place in competition also : one who shows marked superiority

There is nothing in those definitions that says there can only be one winner.

 

[katie01]

Think about the thousands of kids who started the contest this year, at the school-wide, city-wide, regional, etc. levels. Every single one of those winners had to survive those initial rounds to even get to the finals. Then look at the group of kids who were eliminated in the top level. The large group sitting to the left were all eliminated. It came down to those eight, and not one was stumped by the extremely tough words that were thrown at them. Each one knew how to dissect the words, look for the roots, origins, definitions, etc. and come up with the correct spelling. Why does there have to be one winner? If all eight were up to the challenge presented, why can't all eight be named as champions?

Very well said.

Two of my kids won the school spelling bee. They were given pages full of words lists and they had to know the spelling and definitions, because our school and county competition rotates between spelling rounds and vocab rounds. They both worked very hard, and my son went something like 40 plus rounds, with many of those at the end for the tie-breaker with one other student. He advanced to regionals, and from there advanced to the County Bee, where he came in 4th. He went out on a vocabularly round, which I feel is the hardest part of the bees, the definitions are deliberately tricky with the words being slightly off to sound like the correct definition. My daughter didn't advance beyond regionals, but did very well there, and she also went out on a vocabulary round. I think the vocab part does help eliminate contenstants more quickly, I didn't watch the video or look at the link, do the kids have vocab rounds at Scripps?

Anyway, my kids both really worked their butts off studying. Hours and hours of practice. I'm proud of them for putting in the work, and learning all those new words has definitely helped them in their writing. I know their teachers have commented on the depth of their vocabulary when they write school papers. So I say more power to the kids that all won! It's not like they cheated, don't place the blame on the kids just because the contest organizers decided to reward all of them. Thousands of athletes get rewarded with college scholarships (and I'll bet they don't even win every single game they play in college ), so I'm all for equal opportunities for those who are working hard in their academic pursuits. Wishing much success to all of them in the future!

 

[dominiondad]

I want to make sure I'm clear - I think there should be one winner. That said, I have tremendous respect for all of the kids who competed, especially those who made it into the later rounds. I have no doubt there is a ton of studying, hard work, commitment, and determination - not to mention being super smart. They are amazing kids and they should be incredibly proud of what they accomplished, as should their parents. That said, they are a lot of athletes who put in years of hard work, determination, injuries, and sacrifice to win a silver medal.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I still remember Charley Brown Spelling Bee.

Charley Brown. Failure. Correct.
Lucy. Of course he's getting them. Those are words he's well acquainted with
Charley Brown. Fussbudget
Lucy. Hey. How'd he know that word?

 

[katie01]

I want to make sure I'm clear - I think there should be one winner. That said, I have tremendous respect for all of the kids who competed, especially those who made it into the later rounds. I have no doubt there is a ton of studying, hard work, commitment, and determination - not to mention being super smart. They are amazing kids and they should be incredibly proud of what they accomplished, as should their parents. That said, they are a lot of athletes who put in years of hard work, determination, injuries, and sacrifice to win a silver medal.

true, but even Olympic athletes can and do tie for medals

If they don't already, they could try having Scripps rotate between the vocab and spelling rounds as I mentioned that our school and county does. It makes it more challenging.