5th-grader finds mistake at Smithsonian

[Mugu]

AP via Yahoo

ALLEGAN, Mich. - Is fifth-grader Kenton Stufflebeam smarter than the Smithsonian? The 11-year-old boy, who lives in Allegan but attends Alamo Elementary School near Kalamazoo, went with his family during winter break to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington.

Since it opened in 1981, millions of people have paraded past the museum's Tower of Time, a display involving prehistoric time. Not one visitor had reported anything amiss with the exhibit until Kenton noticed that a notation, in bold lettering, identified the Precambrian as an era.

Kenton knew that was wrong. His fifth-grade teacher, John Chapman, had nearly made the same mistake in a classroom earth-science lesson before catching himself. "I knew Mr. Chapman wouldn't tell all these students" bad information, the boy told the Kalamazoo Gazette for a story published Wednesday.

So Kevin Stufflebeam took his son to the museum's information desk to report Kenton's concern on a comment form. Last week, the boy received a letter from the museum acknowledging that his observation was "spot on."


Complete article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/ap_on_fe_st/odd_smarter_than_smithsonian

[csziggy]

1. Smithsonian just can't get it right

Excited as he was to receive the correspondence from museum officials, he couldn't help but point out that it was addressed to Kenton Slufflebeam.

In Allegany.

:rofl:

[malaise]

3. Apparently the Smithsonian has been

Freeped :rofl:

[Aristus]

2. Wow. This is the greatest epoch in the history of man!

B-)

[flygal]

4. LOL!

:rofl:

[angstlessk]

5. Are YOU smarter than a 5th grader? Not I said I! Great story

amazing and the father gets kudos for not being afraid to be wrong...just in case!!!!