SPELLING: SNAP FOR KENNETT SECOND GRADERS

As reported in the Dunklin Daily Democrat in Kennett, not only are second graders learning to spell some pretty big words -- and how to use them in sentences, the community also is getting involved in a novel and creative bit of education.

Second graders in Sandre Crunk's class at Masterson Elementary School are learning words like "altercation" and "discombobulate." These are extra words in addition to the regular second-grade list of spelling words. The students were promised a pizza and ice cream party at the end of the school year if the entire class earned at least a B on the spelling tests. The 24-student class did just that, and two students received perfect scores for the year.

So there was a spelling celebration for Mrs. Crunk's students. They were joined by several adult members of the Kennett community who, throughout the year, had contributed some of the extra words just for the fun of it.

Mrs. Crunk says she was inspired by her father, who gave her a new word to learn every day when she was a third grader.

Mrs. Crunk was lucky to have a dad who thought enough of his daughter's education to make this extra effort. Mrs. Crunk's students are lucky to have a teacher who understands that young minds need to be stretched and challenged -- and who understands that just about everyone, particularly in the second grade, has the potential to learn even when the standards are high.

And the community is lucky to have Mrs. Crunk and others in the community who have found ways to get involved in making second grade a special opportunity for learning.

Given enough Mrs. Crunks and interested community members, most of what's wrong with this nation's schools would be quickly laid to rest.