361. First, the kid was as polite as anyone could ask for given that he had to put up with a lame interviewer and worse, the producer who put her up to it.
Second, if you're going to try and trip up a kid with an obscure word then at least you should practice enunciating it properly, unless you have a cheap tight wad of a producer who doesn't care about journalistic integrity. Or was the producer trying to make fun of a child who is a good bit smarter than the interviewer and producer combined.
Third, the lame set-up and preparations of the broadcast questions also suggests a lack of integrity of the network. CNN used to have capable producers and interviewers but in the last six years it has not demonstrated the capability to investigate into serious issues of public integrity and official misconduct on an unprecedented scale. No, they lamely try to make fun of the accomplishment of a normal juvenile that studied, practiced, developed linguistic skills (recognizing the need to differentiate between French vs Latin spelling construction) and was polite. This media outlet, it appears, would rather not take their jobs seriously and go for cheap laughs.
They ought to have a field day with President Bush and the faux pas that litter nearly ever utterance he makes. Why don't they make fun of an adult? Then we might all have something real to think about.

RB at 12:41AM on Jun 17th 2007

362. My wife had a conversation a couple of days ago about the fact that about 75% of the people in this country being functionally illiterate--I'm all for home schooling since from my observation, I would include teachers in this country in the 75%--

Jesse at 10:17AM on Jun 17th 2007

363. Another poster brought up the possibility of this young man having something in the autism spectrum. After viewing the video, I see it might be possible he could be slightly autistic. As a grandma of a 6-year old highly functioning autistic girl (and a great nephew with a more severe autism), I can see some lack of social skills.

However, this appears to be an extremely intelligent young man, who is at an awkward stage and probably a bit uncomfortable with being interviewed on television, and a bit shy. He is comfortable with his intelligence (and I sincerely believe he was not being cocky, just comfortable with what he knows) and it is obvious he is extremely well learned, as evidenced by his connecting spelling to their origins (French, Latin, etc.).

To the chagrin of public school advocates, from everything I've ever seen, most home-schooled kids are much smarter in most areas, than kids who go to public schools. Kids from public schools don't learn "good" social skills and if anything, are more traumatized or scarred by the nastiness all around them from their peers. Home-schooled kids seem more comfortable with themselves and who they are, and don't have the competitiveness and peer pressure to deal with, and as a result, seem more confident in themselves and their capabilities.

Cheryl at 10:38AM on Jun 17th 2007

364. I think he's very specific - he couldnt answer what his mom said after he won because he was not standing next to her and didn't know. AND CNN was wrong to give a word without knowing the rules of the spelling bee. Next time, they should ask the winner first.

donna at 4:15PM on Jun 18th 2007

365. He's just a kid:-) We were all kids once too :-)
P.S. I totally agree with Nan :-)

Deb at 11:53AM on Dec 27th 2007

366. Intelligence is good, but it's not everything. I was labeled "gifted," and I was passed ahead of my peers. I struggled mightily in social situations, though. When I had the same opportunity to pass my own child ahead of her peers, I chose not to do so because I wanted her to grow emotionally in ways I wasn't allowed to grow. She still excelled in school, has always been socially adept, and still earned an advanced degree from a nationally-ranked University. She never experienced the painful social awkwardness that I experienced until I entered adulthood.

My point is this: From the video, I'd say this boy lacks basic social skills. He's probably been fawned over and admired for his "gift," and he has no humility because of it. The anchor did not mispronounce the word. This boy is simply not comfortable being wrong. I'm not competent to make the autism diagnosis, but, as a parent, I'd say he needs an after-school program with other more "regular" kids. They'll put him in check.

chris jones at 4:30PM on Jun 17th 2007

367. I work as a volunteer interpretive guide at a nature preserve. I've been doing this for 16 years, and have squired all sorts of people around, from all backgrounds. Without doubt, the most difficult to handle, and least open minded, sensitive to others or appreciative, have been home schooled children, such as I've encountered in 4H groups, or from "home schooling enrichment fieldtrips" or with their families.

The home schooled are often rude, lack empathy, are self centered, socially awkward and undisciplined. I blame it on their lack of group interaction and their often opinionated parents who raise their children outside the usual social system and within a strict non-mainstream belief system. I've been repeatedly interrupted, spoken to in rude disparaging terms for not embracing their singular beliefs, or for using science as the basis for my natural science instruction.

Even with the more polite home schooled children, I notice a distinct discomfort they have when being forced to interact with people not part of their immediate family.

I fully recognize that public schools can fail some children and home schooling may be necessary under special circumstances, particularly during illness or extended travel. But great care needs to be taken to ensure these children find some way of interacting with the world at large, even if it's done via internet discussion groups. No matter how many spelling bees they win, these children will never "fit in" or find acceptance within society if they do not become socialized.

Maxie at 6:16PM on Jun 17th 2007

368. Yes. it can be intimidating to be around the profoundly gifted. That's okay. They simply process information faster and more efficiently than the rest of us and that can definitely come off as very disquieting to some adults. That's okay too. The truth is, he can't help being anything more or less than what he is, anymore than you can. Plus, he may come up with the cure for cancer.

Bob at 7:14PM on Jun 17th 2007

369. I was mostly educated in public schools, but because of bullies and teachers' inability to be patient with a kid who has some kind of learning disorder, my Mother tried to home school me twice. That didn't work either. My social skills are not good, either. However, this child's problem may be nervousness, a learning disorder, fear of people ridiculing him [and some of you by your comments must be helping him a lot if that is the case, note sarcasm] or bordom. Who's to say, unless you have actually met him. Just leave him alone and move on.

ilea at 6:53AM on Jun 18th 2007

370. Congratulations to a very hardworking speller. I'm sure you'll be successful at whatever you attempt. God Bless and good luck.

bonnie at 9:11AM on Jun 18th 2007

371. Sure he's awkward, but realize that these interviews are done in different studios. The kid was probably sitting in a studio near his home, speaking to the camera, with an ear piece and a slight transmission delay. Think about the delays you see in international reports. It would be similar to having someone film you while you talked on the phone. You wouldn't be making eye contact or responding to visual cues like you would in a face to fact conversation.

roxie at 9:34AM on Jun 18th 2007