Sometimes Adults Are Smarter Than 5th (and 6th) Graders
By Jack Greenberg
Unfortunately, the headline above is indeed true. Today, Mall of America hosted "Kids Stump The Delegates," a twist on the "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" game show. Republican Delegates proved to be at least a little smarter than the students by winning the competition.
The competition consisted of two rounds of questioning. During the first round, the host directed a question to the team and they had 15 seconds to confer and respond. If they answered correctly they were then given a bonus question. Each correct answer was worth 10 points and each correct bonus answer was worth five points.
Round two was the lightening round. Contestants buzzed-in to answer questions. Each correct answer was worth 20 points and each bonus question was worth 10 points.
In the end the kids lost by a slim 20 point margin. Oak Grove Middle School students were not happy. Chris R. blamed the loss on not being able to hit the buzzer quick enough.
Members of the audiencew were quick to say,"It was rigged!" Some said the kids received harder questions about quotes on historic figures, opposed to easier questions about the colors of the flag that the delegates received.
The delegates were certainly shocked they won.
"It was a close one. It could've gone either way," said delegate Jack McGregor from Bridgeport, Connecticut. "It's been a long time since I've been in 5th Grade. "
A quick poll of the students who were spending their second day of school at Mall of America said they were all interested in politics, just like their older opponents.
"We are both Democrats and Republicans," said one young woman. "We just go with the best candidates." When asked to cheer for their candidate, most seemed to suppourt Obama, although McCain got a lot of cheers as well.
Stay with Scholastic News Online for all 2008 Republican National Convention with Michael Geheren, Aaron Silberman, and me. Also, sign up for a twitter feed at twitter.com/ScholasticNews!
PHOTO: Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg quizzes the contestants at "Kids Stump the Delegates," a quiz show-like game at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, on September 3, 2008. Photo by Suzanne Freeman
GO OBAMA
Posted by: Brandon | September 08, 2008 at 06:53 PM
OBAMA IS WRONG FOR PRES. AND WRONG FOR THE USA.
GO McCAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Chris | September 09, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Obama rules, he is the right person to run our country.
Posted by: Jacob | September 10, 2008 at 09:03 AM
McCain is the best person for the job about now in this war crisis.
Posted by: Chris | September 10, 2008 at 10:02 AM
I don't really know much about the issues so I don't know who would be best.
Posted by: Grace | September 10, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Obama should win I like his ideas
Posted by: Tanner | September 10, 2008 at 12:48 PM
This country needs a leader GO OBAMA.
Posted by: Quentin | September 10, 2008 at 12:49 PM
go mccain he is the best for our country!!!
Posted by: Drew | September 10, 2008 at 02:54 PM
I think those questions are too easy, but I'm glad the delegates won!
Posted by: Katherine | September 10, 2008 at 04:06 PM
I like the way both of the candidates think. I like McCain better for some policys and I like Obama for some of his plans. Either way i like both. I am very undecied at this point!!!!!!
Posted by: Rachel | September 10, 2008 at 07:16 PM
I like McCain better than Obama because with McCain you know what he has planed for our country.
Posted by: Rachel | September 10, 2008 at 07:28 PM
i dont think that it was fair that the adults won because there questions were a whole lot eaiser
Posted by: kaitlyn | September 11, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Boft have good ideas
So go Obama
And go McCain
Posted by: Sarah | September 12, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Obama because his not to old, he knows what the people needs , his gonna be more experience, and his a new blood meaning that his no long in wachington D.C , not like the other from long time and they are already tiered. be side i think that obama is gonna be the best president ever
Posted by: safa | September 14, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Obama is good and so is McCain, but I am leaning toward Obama becsuse he is a democrat and I like his ideas and we need a change, so GO OBAMA
Posted by: Sarah | September 15, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Go McCain
Posted by: Aaron | September 18, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Go McCain!!I think the kids should have won tho. :(
XC*29:51*XC
Posted by: caitlin v | September 18, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Obama will dominate mccain!!!
Posted by: Tyler | September 18, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Go Obama
Posted by: Andrew | September 18, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Obama and McCain are both good choices; I'm actually torn because I agree with them both on different issues. However, I do think Obama would be the best man for our country.
Posted by: Kelsey | September 18, 2008 at 02:51 PM
I think Obama would be the best choice as our leader for our country! GO OBAMA!!!
Posted by: Alexa | September 19, 2008 at 11:21 AM
i think it would be cool to have a basket ball cort in the white house!
Posted by: tiffany | September 19, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Go Obama!
Posted by: brittany | September 19, 2008 at 02:20 PM
if i was old enough i would vote 4 obama...!!!
Posted by: carla | September 20, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I think it's awesome that kids go to compete against the Delegates.
Posted by: MJ | September 20, 2008 at 10:01 PM