Kids trounce adults in Optimists’ game show
Horizon fifth-graders Thomas Rock, Erin Jackson, Kya Williams and Lynne Clark won the game show competition. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Young students recently showed their ‘smarts’ in competition with Madison police officers at “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?,” sponsored by Optimist Club of Madison.
“‘Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?’ was a gas last year when the ‘young ‘uns’ buried Dr. Dee Fowler and some of his staff,” Optimist member Vic van Leeuewn said. “This year it was Chief Larry Muncey and the officers’ turn.”
The Madison version of the popular TV game show was held at Horizon Elementary School. Muncey, Capt. John Stringer, Capt. Steve Wilkerson and Maj. Jim Cook represented Madison Police Department.
Chief Larry Muncey, from left, Capt. John Stringer, Capt. Steve Wilkerson and Maj. Jim Cooke represented Madison Police Department at “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?” (CONTRIBUTED)
They were challenged by Horizon fifth-graders Thomas Rock, Erin Jackson, Kya Williams and Lynne Clark, all students of gifted specialist Beth Bero.
“It was a one-sided affair with ‘Madison’s Finest’ conceding defeat to Horizon’s well-educated students with a score of 16 to .5 points,” van Leeuewn said. “Questions were selected by the students from their textbooks, so it may be that the outcome was not really fair to the police.”
Mark McCarter emceed the show. “McCarter was one of the contestants last year and noted that he felt much better about emceeing than competing,” van Leeuewn said.
“It was also noted that the officers’ time in the fifth grade was a few decades in the past,” van Leeuewn said. While the Horizon fifth-graders triumphed, “no one would concede that the police officers were outclassed in their dedication to Madison residents’ safety.”
After the round with the police, Horizon students squared off against their parents. Again, the students won.
Madison Optimist Club meets monthly on the first and third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Port of Madison restaurant at the Best Western PLUS, 9035 Madison Blvd. For information, call 256-772-8148 or 256-461-8787.
