www.canarsiecourier.com/news/2007-01-18/Front_Page -
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Published on: 1/18/2007
Last Visited: 10/7/2009
By Neil S. Friedman
...
Student Lamarre St. PhardAn I.S. 252 special education student, who thought he had qualified to represent his school in next month's regional spelling bee, knows how to spell "respect," but last week he claimed his principal doesn't know the meaning of the word.
The confusion apparently began after 13-year-old Lamarre St. Phard won his class spelling bee and received a "school champion" certificate from the Lenox Road middle school's librarian acknowledging the accomplishment, although no other class had held a competition.
Upon receiving the document St. Phard prematurely thought he earned the right to represent the school in the February 1 regional contest.
Nevertheless, St. Phard said that the principal told him he would not be allowed to represent the school because "you don't have the brains to do it and you'll get eliminated in the first round and make the school look bad."
St. Phard, who was supported by a few students, said he was hurt and ashamed by Brown's remarks.