Privileged Resolution 000128

..Title Honoring and commending The National Academic League. ..Body WHEREAS, The National Academic League on transforming participating Philadelphia district schools into "teams" where academic "athletes" are honored and student/parent/teacher collective efforts receive the attention and rewards that they so richly deserve; Further Honoring all teams, in particular LaBrum and City Champions for middle league division, Masterman Middle School, for generating the same fervor, enthusiasm and pride in academics as sports teams in winning City or divisional championships; and WHEREAS, It is common knowledge that to successfully compete in an ever evolving and increasingly sophisticated world, students need to be instilled with not only a desire to learn but also equipped with the ability to problem solve, both individually and collectively, and take pride in obtaining knowledge; and WHEREAS, Countless studies have shown that during the middle school years (ages 11-14), students stand at a crossroads. Factors including lack of personal and external motivation, peer pressure that views excellence, or the aspiration for such in academics as a negative and a disproportionate sense of pride in athletics as a way to achieve success disproportionately contribute to the moral and social dilemmas that occur during this critical developmental stage; and WHEREAS, The National Academic League (NAL) was created to address these problems as well as revitalize the passion for learning that is so essential at the critical intermediate-grade level. The program has managed to combine aspects of team sports, including competitiveness, strategy and group performance, with the mastering of individual learning, critical thinking and scholarship; and WHEREAS, NAL, having been developed and refined since its inception six years ago, now includes 39 school districts nationwide representative of over 300 intermediate or Junior High Schools and approximately 7,000 students. The Philadelphia School District participates in the "new sport" wherein an academic season with four separate quarters span the subject areas of math, English, science and social studies with each quarter emphasizing different types of skills; and WHEREAS, Thirty seven (37) middle schools, eight (8) high schools, thirty-nine (39) coaches and thirty-nine (39) principals within the School District of Philadelphia are National Academic League schools and have played regularly scheduled games since December, 1999; and WHEREAS, The City championship, between Masterman and LaBrum, was held on Wednesday, March 1, 2000. While there are truly no losers in this enriching experience, Masterman, as champions, will compete, via televideo, against Pueblo Schools in Pueblo, Colorado for the National championship; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that we hereby honor and commend The National Academic League on transforming participating Philadelphia district schools into "teams" where academic "athletes" are honored and student/parent/teacher collective efforts receive the attention and rewards that they so richly deserve. And further honoring all participants, and in particular LaBrum and City Champions for middle league division, Masterman Middle School, for generating the same fervor, enthusiasm and pride in academics as sports teams in winning City or divisional championships. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Michael A. Clayton, Sr., National Academic League Commissioner for the School District of Philadelphia, LaBrum and Masterman Middle Schools as evidence of the respect and sincere regard of this legislative body for their efforts in improving the educational quality and community spirit of participating schools.