Kathy Cox outsmarts 5th-graders, wins a million

Miss-Delectable · 09-06-2008, 04:50 AM

Kathy Cox outsmarts 5th-graders, wins a million | ajc.com

The fifth-graders never had a chance. Georgia State school superintendent Kathy Cox became the first $1 million winner Friday night on the FOX TV series “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader” by answering correctly the question: Who was the longest reigning British monarch?

It was a giddy performance on screen, recorded Aug. 6 in Los Angeles. Cox watched the show with about 100 supporters and friends at Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill in Peachtree City, all whooping at her big game show gamble that paid off.

She said her entire winnings will be donated to three schools: Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon; Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston and Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring.

When word got out that Cox was on the show, critics said she was risking her own reputation and that of the state school system. What happened if she missed a simple category such as Second Grade Animal Science? She got that right, too.

Despite the win, she took some political heat. State Representative Rob Teilhet (D-Smyrna) ran an ad on the show Friday night criticizing her for being on TV while students are struggling in crowded Georgia classrooms. That brought boos from the crowd.

She said the toughest of the 10 questions was naming which country, besides Nicaragua, bordered the country of Costa Rica. She answered correctly: Panama.

Cox’s next-door neighbor and fifth grade teacher, Sally Porter, who was watching alongside Cox at the restaurant, said she had no doubt Cox, who was sworn to secrecy and didn’t reveal she had won before the show, would win. “She had a 3.8 average at Emory, and is the superintendent of Georgia Schools,” said Porter. “Yeah, she’s smarter than a fifth-grader.”

When she was vocally sorting through all the British monarchs who might be the longest reigning, she dismissed Elizabeth I, then Henry VIII, with the line: “He wasn’t there the longest. He got fat. He died.”

The studio audience erupted. So did the throng at Smokey Bones.

***VamPyroX*** · 09-07-2008, 01:45 AM

Jeez... people will do anything to criticize her. She won. She's giving the money to schools. They should be happy.

**GraysonPeddie** · 09-07-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Jeez... people will do anything to criticize her. She won. She's giving the money to schools. They should be happy.

I'm not going to be much smarter than any fifth grader, but that doesn't mean that I'm not smart in fixing computers, master Windows, do computer programming, game development, etc.

It's not that easy to remember all of science and history of the United States -- even Florida, that I currently live in.

***VamPyroX*** · 09-11-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraysonPeddie

I'm not going to be much smarter than any fifth grader, but that doesn't mean that I'm not smart in fixing computers, master Windows, do computer programming, game development, etc.

It's not that easy to remember all of science and history of the United States -- even Florida, that I currently live in.

That's right. Also, every school has their own method of teaching their kids. Some schools will lack some parts that is covered by other schools, while those other schools will lack some parts that is cover by some schools.

09-06-2008, 04:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 17,174 Blog Entries: 3	Kathy Cox outsmarts 5th-graders, wins a million Kathy Cox outsmarts 5th-graders, wins a million \| ajc.com The fifth-graders never had a chance. Georgia State school superintendent Kathy Cox became the first $1 million winner Friday night on the FOX TV series “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader” by answering correctly the question: Who was the longest reigning British monarch? It was a giddy performance on screen, recorded Aug. 6 in Los Angeles. Cox watched the show with about 100 supporters and friends at Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill in Peachtree City, all whooping at her big game show gamble that paid off. She said her entire winnings will be donated to three schools: Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon; Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston and Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring. When word got out that Cox was on the show, critics said she was risking her own reputation and that of the state school system. What happened if she missed a simple category such as Second Grade Animal Science? She got that right, too. Despite the win, she took some political heat. State Representative Rob Teilhet (D-Smyrna) ran an ad on the show Friday night criticizing her for being on TV while students are struggling in crowded Georgia classrooms. That brought boos from the crowd. She said the toughest of the 10 questions was naming which country, besides Nicaragua, bordered the country of Costa Rica. She answered correctly: Panama. Cox’s next-door neighbor and fifth grade teacher, Sally Porter, who was watching alongside Cox at the restaurant, said she had no doubt Cox, who was sworn to secrecy and didn’t reveal she had won before the show, would win. “She had a 3.8 average at Emory, and is the superintendent of Georgia Schools,” said Porter. “Yeah, she’s smarter than a fifth-grader.” When she was vocally sorting through all the British monarchs who might be the longest reigning, she dismissed Elizabeth I, then Henry VIII, with the line: “He wasn’t there the longest. He got fat. He died.” The studio audience erupted. So did the throng at Smokey Bones. __________________ "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." - Helen Keller

09-07-2008, 01:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 40.18, 58.41 Posts: 34,193	Jeez... people will do anything to criticize her. She won. She's giving the money to schools. They should be happy. __________________ Check out my city... C L I C K H E R E! (If you've already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

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