What is this fascination with the national spelling bee?

[Rick Lee]

I will never understand why people are so impressed by kids' abilities to memorize the spelling of words no one ever uses. It was all over CNN last night and today. I think the only word I recognized was "espousal", which I might use one or twice a year. The other words I'd never heard of and would never use, even if I had. I knew a few kids in school with photographic memories who could solve the Rubik's Cube or whatever. But I don't recall any of them being better spellers than I was. Why does the media, or anyone for that matter, make such a big deal out of a contest to see which kid can memorize something (that's irrelevant) the best? I think an essay-writing or logic problem-solving competition would be far more valuable and a better measure of a kid's true talent and worth ethic.

[trekkor]

Looks like you used spell check...


KT

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Looks like you used spell check...


KT

Never. Rather, I speak and write in plain English that everyone can understand. I'm not at all impressed by hearing or reading someone drop SAT words every other sentence, and I fail to see how teaching kids to memorize useless words has any real value. Sort of reminds of me of a smart-ass kid in my prep school calculus class who asked the teacher one day, "Mr. Graupner, when am I ever gonna use the second derivative in real life?" Although, one could say that just learning how to do calculus teaches problem-solving and logic skills that will be useful to non-physicists and non-math/science teachers later in life. Not so for memorizing long words that no one recognizes. I didn't ace my SAT's, but I think I've done enough reading to know that, if I come across a word I don't know the meaning of, it's probably an example of someone's poor writing more than my own limited vocabulary.

[KaptKaos]

They don't generally memorize words. Of course, there is some of that, but mostly they learn the etymology of the words, the gerunds, Latin and other tricks to help them spell words that they've never heard of. You try it and see how easy it is

[Rick Lee]

Ok, that sounds a little more reasonable, but I don't think I buy it.

A word I saw them spell today was "guerdon".

Dictionary.com has this:

–noun 1. a reward, recompense, or requital.
–verb (used with object) 2. to give a guerdon to; reward.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME < OF, var. of werdoun < ML widerdonum, alter. (prob. by assoc. with L dōnum gift) of OHG widarlōn, equiv. to widar again, back + lōn reward; c. OE witherléan]

Now, I have a very good command of spoken and written German and fail to see any relationship whatsoever between this guerdon and the above. The slightest, thinnest relationship I can see here is the German prefix "wider", which means "against" or "resist". Maybe that can be turned into "return" or "recompense". But where did they get guerdon from wider?

[Cornpanzer]

I think you miss his point. Balancing a two legged chair while spinning fine china on broomsticks isn't easy either. Easy or difficult, neither skill will help you much in the real world.

[the]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I think the only word I recognized was "espousal", which I might use one or twice a year.

Last time I used it was after a wild night in Cabo.

"¿Quien es usted? Donde esta mi espousal?"

[dzls rok]

what i dont understand is...why do they have the national spelling bee on espn?

[VincentVega]

An excuse to show more of her?



I dont get it either. But, until football season ESPN doesnt show much that's interests me.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

It beats havin' 'em sitting on their chubby arses playing PS3.

[Sonic dB]

words are sexy

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by dzls rok

what i don't understand is...why do they have the national spelling bee on espn?

Same reason poker is...

Rick,
You got to be kidding right? I'm on pins and needles!!! Oh my it is so exciting! I'm DVRing it so I can watch it over and over again!

[Seahawk]

Rick, you can't be serious. Learning how to spell, well, requires discipline. Discipline is the foundation of every academic pursuit, every business endeavor. Discipline is an attribute this country sorely lacks.

I'd like local TV stations to broadcast a spelling bee as many times as they wallow in Judge Judy, then followed by a math quiz.

No green type.

[Dixie]

I will never understand why people are so impressed by kids' abilities to catch a ball. It's all over ESPN night and day. I think the only play I recognized was "the pass", which I might try one or twice a year. But it probably would only go five yards. Plus, it has no value at my work. I knew a few kids in school who were good at sports, but I don't recall any of them being better spellers than I was. Why does the media, or anyone for that matter, make such a big deal out of a contest to see which kid can throw something (that's irrelevant) the best? I think spelling would be a far more valuable and a better measure of a kid's true talent and worth ethic.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Rick, you can't be serious. Learning how to spell, well, requires discipline. Discipline is the foundation of every academic pursuit, every business endeavor. Discipline is an attribute this country sorely lacks.

I'd like local TV stations to broadcast a spelling bee as many times as they wallow in Judge Judy, then followed by a math quiz.

No green type.

Good point,
I would probably watch a spelling bee over America Idol or dancing with the stars (never seen either)

[Jim Richards]

Richard, don't you know your Shakespeare? Much Ado About Nothing? Claudio delivering his epitaph to Hero as punishment for wrongly accusing her? First (and ony ) time I head anyone use the word "guerdon." Some education you had! You probably never read Camus, either.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Rick, you can't be serious. Learning how to spell, well, requires discipline. Discipline is the foundation of every academic pursuit, every business endeavor. Discipline is an attribute this country sorely lacks.

I'd like local TV stations to broadcast a spelling bee as many times as they wallow in Judge Judy, then followed by a math quiz.

No green type.

I am serious. And stop calling me Shirley.

Sure, memorizing words they'll never even use for their SAT's or AP's might require discipline. And you'll never hear me say kids don't need such discipline. I'm not saying there's anything inherently wrong with a spelling bee. I just don't see why a contest of which kid can memorize the most words he'll never use (forget about making him use it in a sentence correctly) is such a huge tv deal. It doesn't impress me any more than that old tv show "Real People" when that guy, who memorized the LA phone book, had audience members call out names and he was able to cite their phone numbers. Ok, people with those kinds of photographic memories are somewhat impressive. Kids memorizing stuff is not. I'd much rather watch old reruns of my sister's t-ball games from the late 70's.

[DARISC]

Yeah, those kids that can spell good are laughable geeks; I watch it ever yeer and ever time one of them little buggers mispel a werd and look all mopey and dissapernted it cracks me up and I bask in schadenfreude.

[dd74]

The winner received about $50K in scholarship money. Not bad for a 12-year-old. He's now nationally recognized, and probably has an e-ticket to any university he wants to attend.

Quite a guerdon.

The fascination? Young minds working with such clarity and direction and under the overwhelming pressure of a two-minute time constraint. That's fascinating.

[kstar]

Bee spelling more better conceptual.

High importance have and critically for educate cerebellum.

Grammar they bee need.