Good spelling, bad judging

An eighth-grader was ejected from a spelling bee -- after spelling her word, "discernible," correctly. She finished in third place.

Her parents -- trying to be respectful, they said -- waited until the bee was over to double-check the spelling in a dictionary and alert the judges. But by then it was too late. The rules stipulate that the judges' decision must be challenged immediately.

I'm with the mom, Cindy Beckman, here: "Spellers and academic children don't get all the accolades that the sports kids do. This is one of their few chances to shine, to get attention -- and look what happens."

But I'll have to part ways with her here: "I'll take this to the U.S. Supreme Court. I will take this to the international court of law to fight for my baby's rights."