Who uttered the famous quote “Genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration”? If you answered Thomas Edison then you’d be up there with local students at this year’s history bee and bowl.
Students from Abu Dhabi Home Schoolers Association (ADHSA) have qualified for the Asian Championship of the International History Bee and Bowl (IHBB) – the only Abu Dhabi team to do so. Six students aged 12 to 18 competed against six other teams from the UAE at the inaugural Dubai qualifier last week.
“We were delighted that the director of the programme, David Madden, thought to invite home-schooled students to this event,” said Rebecca Lavallee, chairman ADHSA. “Even with a small group of participants in the competition it afforded us an opportunity to compete with teams from all over Asia.”
The young competition, which began in 2011, is comprised of a ‘bee’ for individual students and a ‘bowl’ for teams. Questions presented to participants run the gamut from history of the arts, sciences, philosophy, historical geography, sports history and so much more. The championship will be held in Hong Kong in April. ADHSA is looking into sponsorship opportunities to get the children to the event.
“Right now it’s just an exciting thought but who knows. Everything starts with an idea,” said Lavallee.
ADHSA is a volunteer group of home-schoolers from different backgrounds and nationalities. The organisation’s focus is to inform and support the capital’s home-schooling community from grade 1 to high school.
Lavallee hopes that as the IHBB grows, more Abu Dhabi schools will participate and that competition amongst the students will increase. To find out more about the event, visit: www.ihbbasia.com
