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Cleveland School in Chicago finished their FIRST WRESTLING SEASON thanks to the efforts of ISI's Wrestling Foundation.   They are lead by Head Coach Tom Beottjer, a PE teacher at Cleveland School.

Cleveland had 16 boys out for their team in 2008.  Johnny Maldanado qualified for the Sectional Tournament.  Congratulations to all Cleveland wrestlers on a great first season.

ISI WRESTLING FOUNDATION

ISI Wrestling Foundation is a program initiated by ISI Wrestling School.  The purpose of the program is to give the youth of Chicago Public Schools an appropriate, healthy after school activity that can have a substantial effect on the learning process.  In addition, we hope to raise the caliber of wrestling at the high school level by providing instruction in wrestling at an early age. The youth of CPS deserve the same opportunity as their suburban and downstate neighbors.   

THE NEED

Why Are At Risk Youth Failing?

According to Beat The Streets, a New York City middle school wrestling program, there is an extensive list of factors that contribute to the academic failure of youth from disadvantaged circumstances.  Many of these factors are beyond the scope and capacity of the typical community based youth program.  Dr. Reginald Clark’s research suggests there are some important ways after school programs can affect achievement levels of youth.  Research demonstrates that an important predictor of these students academic performance has to do with how they use their time in school.  Clark has found that low achieving students spend most of their non school hours involved in activities that have little benefit to them during their in school time.  High achieving students, however, participate in more activities that reinforce the skills and knowledge they are learning in school.  Clark’s research suggests that after school programs can enable youth to become high achieving students by incorporating 25-35 hours of these fun but academically beneficial activities that support the school related learning process – known as high yield learning activities – throughout the daily program schedule.

The Need for Supplemental Educational Opportunities

Clark’s work demonstrates an increasing need for supplemental educational opportunities during non -school hours.  Although the parents and schools have the primary responsibility for children’s formal education, people and institutions outside of the school walls influence the academic achievement of youth.  Families, communities, and after school programs, particularly athletics, have a profound impact on children’s learning.  We believe all these institutions have a collective responsibility to the development of children.

Thus, supplemental opportunities are needed beyond the normal school hours.  Carnegie’s Task Force on Learning in the Early Grades recommends that communities improve local after school programs to ensure linkages to children’s curricula in school.  Finally, recent research by the U.S. Department of Education documents that after school programs can improve educational outcomes for school age youth.    Their report states that after school programs can:

1) Increase achievement in math, reading and other subjects.

2) Help children develop greater confidence in their academic abilities.

3) Increase school attendance rates.

4) Improve quality and quantity of homework.

5) Improve rates of high school graduation.

6) Improve behavior of students.

Summary

Research suggests those positive learning opportunities in primary and middle school years, coupled with appropriate, healthy after school activities, such as wrestling can have a substantial effect on the learning process.  Moreover, these positive learning opportunities can be organized effectively during non-school hours and in informal settings.  The program we intend to develop, ISI Wrestling Foundation outlines a program to provide these opportunities for youth in the city of Chicago.