Success of top matriculants all spelt out
THE Scripps National Spelling Bee was cancelled last year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and is hoped to return in June this year.
In the past Scripps National Spelling Bee,in 2019, there were eight winners: Rishik Gandhasri, Erin Howard, Saketh Sundar, Shruthika Padhy, Sohum Sukhatankar, Abhijay Kodali, Christopher Serrao and Rohan Raja.
Looking at their names, you might think the winners were from New Delhi or Mumbai or other parts of India. Not so.
However, while they are all from the US, seven of the eight winners can trace their ancestry to India.
A spelling bee is a competition in which contestants are asked to spell a broad selection of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty.
The eight Scripps 2019 co-champions won their titles by correctly spelling auslaut, erysipelas, bougainvillea, aiguillette, pendeloque, palama, cernuous and odylic. Each winner receives a $50 000 (about R750 000) cash prize and an engraved trophy.
Over the past 20 years, Indian-Americans have come to dominate the Scripps spelling bee even though they comprise only 1% of the US population.
Since 1999, there have been 26 Indian-American champions, including the seven in 2019.
Apart from winning the past nine spelling bees in the US, Indian-American children have also won the past five National Geographic Bees, which test geographic knowledge. From 2005, the winning rate of Indian-origin children in the two competitions has been well over 80%.
The question then begs: Why do Indian-Americans dominate spelling bees and other academic competitions?
Those who did some research have concluded that their success probably has to do with a firm commitment by families to spend the time and money necessary to help their kids fully prepare.
The children excel not just in spelling bees but also in geography, maths and other academic competitions.
Indian-American parents who were interviewed asserted that for their children to have a good shot at getting into a prominent university, their children would need an undeniably strong academic record.
Parents were also worried that college admission officers might hold their children, as Asian-Americans, to a higher standard in expected test scores. Isn’t this the same story with local Indian matriculants who, because of the racial quota system, struggle to get places in medical schools despite getting top subject symbols?
The father of a spelling bee contestant said Indian-Americans must get 130 points above other groups. Spelling bees, mastering quadratic equations, parental investment in a child’s educational success and other intellectual endeavours would help his daughter get a higher score.
The father of another contestant, when asked why the Indian-American community put such emphasis on this activity, replied: “The motivation probably comes from parents who grew up in a place where education can get you a lot.”
I got thinking about the prowess of Indian children in American spelling bees when the matric results were released last week. Nine of the Top 10 pupils in KwaZulu-Natal belong to the Indian race group.
Colombe Cynthia Obono Eyono took first position. Scooping second place was Shaheen Govender. Jordane Hannah Vartharajulu was third. Dipika Somaroo was placed fourth. Sharing the fifth position were Sanam Maharaj and Hemal Niranjan Harkhu. Vanam Ramessur and Shreya Nair shared the sixth spot. Kiarin Naidoo, scooped seventh spot. Sharing the eighth spot were Akshar Kanaye Kiash Nadasen Baldeo.
At the risk of being labelled a racist for offering only my personal reasons for the academic achievements of Indian learners, I canvassed some other views.
Dr Vijay Reddy, who is a distinguished research specialist in the Inclusive Economic Development research division at the Human Sciences Research Council, said the preponderance of Indians in the Top 10 could be attributed to “enduring family support, student dedication and discipline”.
She said she was impressed that some of the learners were from schools in former Indian areas such as Effingham Heights,
Chatsworth, Phoenix, Umkomaas and Seatides in Tongaat. For this read, the learners were not from former Model C schools or lahnee suburbs.
Edwin Naidu, a former journalist and corporate communications consultant, attributed the success of Indian learners to the “same resilience, hard work and perseverance of their forefathers whose roots in South Africa were built on sweat and toil in the sugarcane fields”.
He added: “Consistently, learners of Indian origin have excelled in the matric exams. But this should come as no surprise. Indians are known to punch above their weight in most spheres of endeavour.”
Rhona Rapeti, an Isipingo educator, said: “Indian parents get involved in their children’s education from day one. It is very much part of their upbringing. Education is enlightenment; it is part of our spiritual teachings. It is not just success, but about discipline, commitment and having a strong work ethic. Children learn these qualities from their parents who act as role models.”
She said the socio-economic dice was loaded against African parents who must contend with far more challenges than Indian parents.
“We, teachers, make the difference. We step in as parents of African pupils. We support and encourage them, and they deliver excellent results. Given opportunities such as a stable home environment and a favourable economic situation, all children can do well.”
Ami Nanckchand, a political commentator, said the accomplishments of the matric achievers was “nothing less than inspirational” as they have had to adapt to the stressful challenges and barriers of the current state of affairs in democratic South Africa.
“They are still struggling with problems of racial equity which they have vowed to overcome. Just assessing their performance only through the lens of nerdy academics is unfair.
“They are remarkable in their commitment, passion, intelligence and work ethic. These extraordinary pupils do what they do because they like the challenge. They feel they have to differentiate themselves from the competition.”
Coming back to our spelling bee winners in America, in other fields like music and athletics, Indian-Americans either barely hold their own or are non-existent at the top level.
In athletics and team sports, Indian-Americans actively participate in high school but are virtually absent at college level and in professional sports.
No one of Indian origin (with a very minor Indo-Canadian exception) has ever played in any professional sports league: American football, baseball or basketball.
In music, it is likely that Indian-American parents prefer to focus on the rich musical traditions from the Asian subcontinent (that also keep their children connected to the culture).
Outside cricket, India hardly figures in global sport; so, it is hard to imagine that Indian-Americans would do much better.
Why is it that talent in some communities gets directed towards some channels and not others?
In most Indian diaspora, parents place high emphasis on education for success.
Many of these parents have extremely high levels of educational attainment themselves. Thus, they value education and push their children in this direction.