Why Are Indian Kids So Good At Spelling?

Posted by StoneLion on Thursday June 3, 2010 @02:48AM from the i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-t dept.

theodp writes "Slate's Ben Paynter looks into why Indian kids dominate the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and concludes it's because they have their own minor-league spelling bee circuit (having the discipline to spell 7,000 to 8,000 words a day probably helps too!). Indian-Americans make up about 1% of the US population, notes Paynter, but this year an estimated 11% of the competitors at Scripps will hail from regional contests run by the North South Foundation. The NSF competitions function as a kind of nerd Olympiad for Indian-Americans — there are separate divisions for math, science, vocabulary, geography, essay writing, and even public speaking — and a way to raise money for college scholarships for underprivileged students in India. BTW, Strollerderby has the scoop on Whatever Happened to the Spellbound Kids? (RIP, Ted Brigham)."

1 of 534 comments (clear)

Life Perspective by Bicx · 2010-06-03 02:57 · Score: 1, Troll

Some societies promote knowledge and mental discipline as keys to success. Others have come to prefer art, sports, and pursuit of whatever makes you feel good at the time. I'll let you categorize appropriately.

(Disclaimer: I know I'm overgeneralizing, but it's fun and it makes me feel good)