Search
WIRY's Spelling Bee
I read an article in one of the local weeklies about a local Spelling Bee. The regional winners are trying to raise money to go to the nationals. The Press-Republican has jumped on board in raising awareness of the event and, in so doing, generate funds for the youngsters to move on to the next spelling level.
It's nice to know that spelling still counts. In these days of instant messaging and text messaging and chatrooms, spelling doesn't really matter, as long as you can quickly and easily make your point. As an English teacher, it has meant an adjustment on my part to accept the new shorthand method of writing and spelling.
It has taken some time to accept lol, brb, thks and ttyl as legitimate forms of communication. And wassup and gotcha and nite have been common new words on computer screens around the world. Even worse, punctuation seems to be a thing of the past.
I remain a stubborn throwback to the old days, and upon the rare occasions when I do instant message, I still punctuate properly and spell words correctly. Modern day IMers tend to make fun of my strange way of communicating.
So, anytime I see that an organization is rewarding correct spelling, I'm interested. There was a time, sometime during the late 1950s, when WIRY Radio held a live weekly spelling bee. Each Saturday morning, students would compete for a $50 savings bond and the honor of being the best speller in your grade in all of Clinton County.
Each local school could send two students, and when they it was time for the fifth grade contest, the Our Lady of Victory Academy fifth grade teacher, Sister Mary Constance, gave our class a spelling test. Angela Liberty and I scored the highest, so we were selected to go to WIRY on the next Saturday morning.
I'm not certain, but I think that Chet Bosworth was the master of ceremonies for the spelling bee. A large group of students were packed into the WIRY studio and, one by one, we would spell words. If you missed a word, you exited the studio. The words were fairly easy, but I recall that many students dropped out on the word "banana." I probably would have missed that word, but someone finally spelled it correctly before it was my turn.
At the end both Angela and I remained. All the other students had missed a word. We OLVA classmates were in a battle for the $50 savings bond. I'm not sure why I rememeber this so clearly, but we each kept spelling words correctly. Finally, Angela was asked to spelling the word "busily." I tossed letters around quietly in my head, while Angela slowly announced, "b-u-i-s-i-l-y."
Chet said, "No, sorry, Angela, that's not correct." He looked at me. If I could spell the word, I would win the contest. Heck, I thought Angela had spelled it correctly. She spelled it exactly the way I would have spelled it. So, advantage Gagnon. I knew how NOT to spell it. I had a moment to make a guess.
So, I chose the next logical path. "B-u-s-i-l-y," I said. Chet said, "That's right! You are our winner this week." I didn't go home with $50. Chet told me that WIRY needed to get some information from my parents. Sometime later I received the savings bond. I don't know what I ever spent it on. Maybe a bicycle or a baseball glove. I'm really not sure. Maybe it's still lying around in my Mom's safe.
It would be fun to see WIRY revive that spelling program. Or, maybe one of the local watering holes, like Bobby's Lounge or the Fourth Ward or Meron's would be interested. We could videotape the event for the public-access channel. But they might have to include all those new words like LOL and OMG.
Comments
Foxy,
I lived in Indiana when I was in the 5th grade and was chosen to appear in front of the entire school to participate in a spelling bee. I faked being sick that morning as having to speak in front of people terrified me. 3 years later, now living in New York and being enrolled at P M S, I had to create a "commercial" to be filmed and then played back in front of the class. That wasn't so bad, as at least I didn't have to perform in front of people. However, in Mr. Murray's class we were also required to give a speech in front of our class. I was terrified. I made my speech and received an A and to this day I still have the little scrap of paper that Mr. Murray made notes on and put my grade on. The A not withstanding, I am still petrified to stand in front of people and speak for any reason so I have to give props to those of you who did so.
I now live in Kentucky and, if they haven't done so already, they (and I have to admit that I am unsure as to who "they" are) are trying to make it okay for students to spell words phoenetically instead of properly. Their idea is that being able to spell the words phoenetically at an earlier age will make it easier for them to spell the same words properly later in life. Excuse me while I stand here looking dumbfounded but how does one equate to the other? I told my high school age son that if he starts to spell words incorrectly then I will make him correct them even if his teachers do not. Spelling is definitely a pet peeve of mine.
Posted by: Kathy | November 13, 2007 4:33 PM
Poor spelling on signs at stores, restaurants, etc is very bothersome. Never sure whether to say something, since it looks like you are "showing them up".
Posted by: john | November 13, 2007 11:49 AM
I'm with you, still clinging to correct spelling and grammar. Every day for two years in 7th and 8th grades English class at SCS, those subjects were diligently instilled in me by Mrs. Dorothy Chase, to whom I'm forever grateful. We even diagrammed sentences. When I tell my college age kids that, I just get a blank look. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon myself, but I'm not ready to give up on that sometimes painfully earned knowledge!
Posted by: "spl-it-rite" | November 13, 2007 11:13 AM
Foxy,
A few years later (I could have said, “Many years later” but need to be honest!) I also participated in the WIRY spelling bee representing Our Lady of Victory. Let me just say, I will never forget how to spell “airplane” again!
Spelling Bees still have my interest because of my experience many years ago. I wish the Press-Republication representation much success.
Congratulations on your win and for bringing Our Lady of Victory into the championships!
Posted by: Elaine from Orlando | November 13, 2007 10:38 AM
I'm still having a problem with the spelling of Rolaids?
Posted by: Doc | November 12, 2007 7:17 AM
Foxy,
How about a spelling bee at Merons December 7? We could do it a couple of hours into the festivities. The first word would be Kasprzak.
Craig Mathews
Posted by: Craig Mathews | November 11, 2007 5:10 PM
I lik ur idea. C't spl WIRY thgh. Mbe Crvr cn
Posted by: rubble | November 11, 2007 4:55 PM