MSNBC - Spelling bees: U-N-S-T-O-P-P-A-B-L-E

MSNBC - Spelling bees: U-N-S-T-O-P-P-A-B-L-E

. . . “They’re like apple pie in America,” said Paige Kimble, director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the nation’s largest and most prestigious bee. “Bees are just part of the school experience.”

The Lincoln School Committee dropped the bee initially because of concerns that it was damaging to children who lost and it did not meet the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Parents argued that the bee taught good study habits and provided students who might not excel in sports or theater a place to shine in front of their peers.

Many people in education agree, which may be contributing to the bee’s sustained growth despite budget woes that have landed many extracurricular activities on the chopping block. . .