The Society for the Discontinuation of the Pentathlon

[EastStroudsburg13]

Yeah, I agree, but let's not argue about poor grammar, let's stick to Pentathlon.

So anyone who supports Pentathlon, exactly why do you think it's a good event? Don't say that it's fun, because that's not a legitimate reason. Don't say it has low stress because you can do similar things in your own free time during a competition.

[sadistic_cottoncandy]

Pentathlon has to do with how well you work with your teammates, and how much you know about science. sure, your strong point may be anatomy because you want to be a doc when you grow up, but wouldn't even a world famous doctor have to know at least a little bit about chemistry? this event helps you to prepare for that sort of thing by testing you on all areas of the scientific field. it's not based on luck at all. it has to do with strategy every bit as much as WIDI. pentathlon has 4 people in the competition, and the judges assess how well they work together, how much they know, and therefore, who the strongest team (the team who's individuals really know what they're doing in competition, and who can work together as a team) is. the physical part is a way to connect those four people, and get them to act as a team. in a sit down, written test event, it's impossible to know which team can do all of that because one person might know all there is to know about...let's say...volcanoes and earthquakes, while their partner is just in the event because they didn't want to send the other person in alone. the partner knows nothing at all about dynamic planet, but their partner is amazing, so it was an easy way to get a medal. problem? yes. the judges in dynamic planet would have no idea that both partners weren't expert volcanologists. in pentathlon, the judges know for certain that all the members of the team deserve a medal.

[EastStroudsburg13]

Okay. But how do you justify the physical activities?

[robotman]

exercise has never hurt anyone has it?

[EastStroudsburg13]

I know. I'm not anti-exercise or anything. It's just that Science O and physical activities should not mix. Period.

[Phenylethylamine]

[...]judges assess how well they work together, how much they know, and therefore, who the strongest team (the team who's individuals really know what they're doing in competition, and who can work together as a team) is.

Everything else in your post I'd have to agree with, but this is just false. The score in Pentathlon is determined only by total time to finish the course. Sure, judges may "assess" those things, but they have no direct effect on your score.

[crzyliljellybean]

[crzyliljellybean]

I believe that the randomness of Pentathlon stays from the standards of the science olympiad competition. In my state Magsig got 33rd in pentathlon. The team ahead of them got 20th place. Without pentathlon, Magsig, the 3rd place reinigning national placer would have got to go. A team was not able to go to NATIONALS because of PENTATHLON!!! This was both teams worst event and it is disturbing to me how this event can even contain the spirit of SO!

This a perfect example of why it should be discontinued. It screws the results up.

I'm not in the B division, so I can't comment as to if it's a good event at all, but this statement is not valid.

It's an event one way or another, and it's the same event for all teams. So instead of calling it unfair that a different team won, perhaps one could say that it's too bad that team was not better at the event.

Don't try to pass off the blame.

Think about it this way - a team did not go to nationals because of the event. But on the flip side, there was a team that will get to.

well to tell the truth, write it do it is not rele luck at all. It takes alot of strategy and practice with ur partner. while pentathlon is very hard to be prepared for

It took me about five times reading your posts before I realized that you meant "really" by "rele." What is with the insistence on knowingly using bad English? Oh, and "your" has a "y" and a "o."

haha ok sorry i was just using internet lingo. but, that was RELE e-z 2 understand. lol jk = Laugh Out Loud, Just Kidding

and i will make sure to use proper english for everybody to understand.

[Over9000]

OK, Fine, you know what, I can admit it.

I love Pentathlon. I had a lot of fun doing it at invitationals. It's a very fun event.

But counting it to your score is absurd.

[fmtiger124]

[...]judges assess how well they work together, how much they know, and therefore, who the strongest team (the team who's individuals really know what they're doing in competition, and who can work together as a team) is.

Everything else in your post I'd have to agree with, but this is just false. The score in Pentathlon is determined only by total time to finish the course. Sure, judges may "assess" those things, but they have no direct effect on your score.

the judges at NY states were really nice and helpful they basically told you what you had wrong