IRATE MUM PULLS KID FROM ELITE PRIVATE SCHOOL OVER SPELLING BEE STOUSH
SPELL THIS: %$#?!
GOLD Coast mother Dr Sofie Bui has taken her young son Khiem out of elite private school A.B. Paterson College after he was judged to have spelt the word “absence” incorrectly in a Year 3 spelling bee competition. Khiem, 8, and another boy actually spelt the word correctly. A third student spelt the word “abscence” but was awarded the points, said Dr Bui. The college said it had investigated the incident and eliminated all points from the round.
A GOLD Coast mother has pulled her young son out of an elite private school after a row over a spelling bee competition.
Doctor Sofie Bui said her eight-year-old boy Khiem would not be returning to A.B. Paterson College after he was judged to have spelt the word “absence” incorrectly in the eighth round of the Year 3 competition last Tuesday.
Khiem – the winner the previous two years – and another boy actually spelt the word correctly.
A third student spelt the word “abscence” but was awarded the points, said Dr Bui who recorded the competition on camera.
“Khiem was so upset after the competition and he kept on insisting that he got it right so we had a look at the video to double check and we realised he did spell it right,” Dr Bui said.
“I thought it was just a simple mistake by the judges and I told Khiem I would talk to the teachers and get it fixed.”
Dr Bui, a dentist and physiotherapist, said she was seeking an apology to give her son his confidence back and recognise his achievement.
“We only wanted an apology and a pat on the back for Khiem for getting it right.”
A.B. Paterson College said it was aware of claims made by a parent regarding the spelling bee competition.
“After receiving the complaint, we investigated and decided, in an effort to be fair to everyone involved, that we would eliminate the results from the round in question and recalculate the overall result using the scores from all the other rounds,” the college said in a statement.
“The same student was declared the winner, because they had the highest overall score.
“We want to support the student involved and contacted the parent on several occasions to seek a meeting with them to discuss their concerns. So far the parent has not agreed to meet with us.
“Our teaching staff are experienced and dedicated, and provide students from junior to senior school with varied opportunities to learn and enjoy, in a caring and nurturing environment.”
KHIEM WAS SO UPSET AFTER THE COMPETITION AND HE KEPT ON INSISTING THAT HE GOT IT RIGHT DR SOFIE BUI
Dr Bui said yesterday was her son’s last at A.B. Paterson.
“I don’t feel comfortable with having my son in an environment where he is treated like that,” she said.
“The spelling bee was unfair but this goes beyond a children’s spelling bee.
“I don’t think an eight year old needs to experience such unfairness.”
Ms Bui said her son was distressed and didn’t understand why no one could tell him why he was wrong.
“My son has not rested in the past two days,” she said. “I took him to see his psychiatrist.”