The spelling bee is an originated in the United States and started back in 1925. Scripps Howard News Service acquired sponsorship of the program in 1941 and changed the name to the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee which is now referred to as just the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Qualifying for the spelling bee starts in both elementary and middle schools. Students usually participate in a “class bee” and move on to the “school bee.” If students win these bees they move on to the district bee. District bee winners then move on to the regional bee, however, winners of the regional bee do not always move on to the national bee due to inexperience. Those who do move on eventually hire tutors to help them study.
Preparing for the national bee requires students to study root words and also foreign languages from which the English language draws from. They also study words that were used in previous national bees. The competitive nature of the Scripps National Spelling Bee can take a toll on many of the young participants. Some students have literally passed out during their turn at the microphone.
A movie from a few years back called “Akeelah and the Bee” highlighted just what students go through to make it all the way to the national spelling bee. It is a great family film and will have you rooting for Akeelah to make it to and win the nationals.
