This view of a spelling bee as a competitive entertainment event was part of the success of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” the award-winning musical presented this past fall by the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. As the characters moved through the backstory of their lives in flashbacks during the spelling bee, the theme of competition was ever-present in the setting – a school gymnasium, with its floor lined as a basketball court. University faculty say that competition in the classroom and on the playing field can provide many lessons to students, although it may have a downside for some.