Spellbinding Changes (Limerick)
Computers and spell-check have been turning spelling prowess into a quaint art. So it’s no wonder that the people behind the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee have upped the ante, now requiring competitors to actually know what the words they’re spelling mean.
Needless to say, this is controversial. And although I think the idea’s a good one, I sympathize with the contestants. Why? Because the change is rather last minute. The contest starts this May 28th, and the change was announced just a couple of days ago, on April 9th.
It’s the very definition of I-N-I-Q-U-I-T-O-U-S.
Spellbinding Changes (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
They’re making the Spelling Bee tougher–
Decidedly meaner and rougher:
It’s no longer enough
To learn spelling of stuff–
Master meanings, or rankings shall suffer.
Tags: Children Humor, Competition Limerick, Education & School Humor, Scripps National Spelling Bee, Spell-Check, Spelling, Spelling Bee Humor, Spelling Contests, Teachers
If they advise contestants via your limerick, the new rule would probably be accepted with more cheer :)
Hey, no one gave me notice to learn how to spell words & know their meanings before every test or exam for 17 yrs. Spelling Bees are so-o yesterday~~let’s have Word Nerds. What good is knowing how to spell a word you’ve no idea of its meaning? The zenith of silly memorization. [Was going to say “vacuous” but remembered last wk’s provocative “Vacuous Limerick” about a “thought-impaired brain.”] Am still reeling from Mad’s limerick about a sluggish tool~~the corkscrew: “an aid in removing our tension.” Wine time.
And I thought spelling bees were boring before–now they’ll take FOREVER! Time to retire the bee, folks–it’s buzz is long gone. ;-)
Yikes!
Poor kids. What about impromptu poetry contest? Limericks. Haiku. Pantun.
Ooh now that was a limerick with punchy message! Bravo!
Thanks so much everyone for your comments!