Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "National Geography Bee" Story

Saturday, January 19, 2013

The "National Geography Bee" Story

Bill, former student and
moderator of the competition

It was an ordinary day. Sitting in the auditorium waiting to take photos of the Geography Bee competition at the Manheim Township Middle School in Lancaster, PA. Have been planning, photographing and laying out the middle school yearbook since 1999 when I retired from teaching at Manheim Township High School. I did the high school yearbook for 29 years and when I retired offered to continue with the yearbook, but the high school principal opted to find someone who was still teaching. The following day I got a call from Bob, principal of the middle school telling me that he heard that I am not going to be doing the yearbook anymore at the high school and offering me the middle school book. He told me to name the price and I could have the job. Wow! Well, I guess I didn't scare him off with my price and I have been with the middle school ever since. This year the school district revamped their schools and took the 6th graders out of the middle school, which was grades 6, 7, and 8, and put them in a newly built school with the 5th grade and called it the Landis Run Intermediate School. The middle school evidently thought I did a good job on their yearbook so the principal of the intermediate school asked me to do their book also. The Geography Bee has been a part of the middle school for as long as I have done their book. Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge. As I sat in the empty auditorium I counted 10 chairs spread across the stage with a lectern on the left and a small table on the right. Within minutes the tone sounded for changing of classes and the students and teachers entered the auditorium. Bill Ziegler, a former student of mine in high school and now a teacher at the middle school greeted me, gave me the 15 page instructions and questions from the National Geographic Society and told me about the competition. Bill has been the moderator for quite a few years now. Shortly later I was greeted by Dave Cooper who has been the coordinator of the competition for many years. We talked about when I could take photos as three of the students took seats in the chairs. These three had tied for two spots and they had to have an elimination round. After two questions were given, one student was eliminated and the rest of the students filled the remaining empty chairs. One teacher acted as the timer while two others kept track of missed questions. Dave and a fellow teacher were the judges for the competition. Bill began with an introduction which was printed on the first sheet of the instructions. Then the competition began. Question #1 was given: "The sources of the Snake and Yellowstone Rivers are in what major mountain range?" The young girl closest to Bill gave her answer orally. "Incorrect," Bill answered. "The correct answer is the Rocky Mountains," Then the next student received a question until all 10 had be quizzed. Round 1 was over. Students were eliminated after they had answered 2 questions incorrectly. The rounds continued, some in oral manner and some written. Quickly the contestants were eliminated until there were 5 remaining. This competition awards prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place with the 1st and 2nd place winners advancing to the state level. The next question was posed by Bill to the five: "The Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through which state that borders Illinois and Iowa?" Four of the five answered the question incorrectly and since it was the second miss for all four, they were all eliminated. Since that left only one and there had to be three winners, the four were asked: "A scenic trail passes through which state that borders Utah and California?" Now we were down to three, but since a winner had been established before the last question, the two that had remained from the last question were given: "The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trial has its southern end in which state?" At last a 2nd and 3rd place were reached. The 3rd place winner was asked to leave the stage and remaining was Bryce and MacGregor whose slates were wiped clean and a final competition was begun. Both could afford to miss one question and not be eliminated as it was before. Question #1: Bill read "The town of Bozeman, known for its ranchers, artists, and trout fishing, is located north of Yellowstone National park in what state?" One answered correctly, one did not. Question #2: Name the large chain of volcanic islands that stretch about 1,200 miles westward from the Alaska Peninsula?" Wow, tough questions! Both answered incorrectly, but since Bryce had answered the first question correctly, he won the competition. After congratulating each other, prizes were awarded by Mr. Cooper to the top three. I must admit that I was stumped on quite a few of the questions which were asked of nine 7th grade students and one 8th grader. These kids were great! This is one of my favorite assignments that I do every year in order to have a group photo and a photo of the top 3. In my book, all are winners. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos were taken for the yearbook as well as a few others which follow.