Headline should not have focused on child's failure

By: | Inside NoVA
Published: June 08, 2008

I viewed the front page of the Potomac News on May 30 with mixed emotions. On the one hand, as a Prince William County School’s employee and as a member of the community, I was very excited and proud to see a full color picture of one of Graham Park Middle School’s sixth grade students, Marie Mach, at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The article was both informative and flattering.

However, my issue is with the headline that was chosen: “Local speller eliminated in 2nd round of bee.”

I found this headline to be a broadcast focusing upon a child’s failure rather than a celebration of a student’s achievement. A much more appropriate title might have been:

“Local speller makes it to 2nd round of bee” or “Local speller competes on a national stage,” etc.

Such a headline would have made for a front page that our school could have proudly displayed. Such a headline could have been cherished by the Mach family for years to come.

Why would our Prince William County newspaper take such a mean-spirited approach rather than celebrate a sixth grader’s amazing accomplishment at a national competition?

This is one of the rare, sterling moments in which we educators, parents and students can take pride in learning for learning’s sake.

I proudly salute and applaud the courageous accomplishment of one of our outstanding citizens, sixth grader Marie Mach.

MARY C. GARECHT

Triangle