Spelling assurance

Lest anyone thinks that the present crop of students doesn't have what it takes to succeed, any of the numerous competitions they enter should arrest those fears. Spelldown 2006, sponsored by the Press and Home News Tribune, is a prime example. These students, from grades 3 through 8, know their words and have the composure to spell them correctly on a big stage in front of a big audience.

The very best of the competitors have to do more than just memorize every word in their practice book. They have to have a keen ear, understand how words are formed, recognize the impact of language origin and still spell the word correctly.

At the Spelldown last week, the final three spellers were very gracious in their applause for the other contestants when they bowed out and in discussing how very competitive the contest was over a tense 39 rounds. Fear not about whether today's students will succeed in life. They already are.