SCIL takes students “down the decades”

By RICHARD A. ROSS

	TRR photos by Richard A. Ross Sullivan West students work on their theatrical depiction of the ’70s at the Sullivan County Interacademic League competition held at Monticello High School on November 7. The theme of “Down the Decades” focused on American history from the ’20s through the early ’70s. Students were also required to create a time capsule for the years 1994-2003. Pictured from left are Sarah Kate Wagner, Ashley Swingle, Emily Gref, Andy Simek, Leslie Bright and Amanda Patterson. Sullivan West came in fourth behind Monticello, Tri-Valley and Liberty. (Click for larger image)

MONTICELLO, NY – American history came alive at Monticello High School as teams gathered on November 7 to take part in the third of six senior Sullivan County Interacademic League (SCIL) competitions for this school year. Challenged to show their knowledge of history from the 20th century, each school had three daunting tasks worth a maximum of 50 points.

First, each team randomly chose one of five decades from the ’20s to the ’70s as its focus for a theatrical presentation.

That theatrical presentation needed to be two to three minutes in length and had to include five defining moments of the particular American decade that related to either politics, science, economics, art, music or literature. Teams were limited to using no more than two events from any of those categories. Supplied with bed sheets, backdrop frames, chairs, posterboard, markers, milk crates, needles and thread, scissors, staplers, masking tape and a stop watch, the teams got busy brainstorming their skits.

Criteria for evaluation included meeting the time limit, creative use of materials, reflection of the spirit of the decade, historical accuracy, clear delivery, originality of message, good writing, unity and fluidity and the inclusion of five defining moments.

 Monticello’s presentation of the ’40s depicted the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Rosie the Riveter, the Manhattan Project, Jackie Robinson, and rationing of goods during the war years.

Livingston Manor’s skit on the ’60s featured Woodstock, the moon landing, JFK’s assassination, Vietnam war protesters and a blackout.

Tri-Valley’s rendition of the ’20s took the form of a classroom lesson designed to heighten awareness about Prohibition, women’s suffrage, the Depression, the discover of King Tut’s tomb and the abduction of the Lindbergh baby.

Sullivan West delighted the audience with their ’70s show featuring dancing and singing to “Staying Alive,” long lines at the gas pump and the emergence of pocket calculators.

	Tri-Valley stages its production on the impact of the events of the roaring twenties. The three-minute presentation gave insights into the discovery of penicillin, jazz at “The Cotton Club,” women’s right to vote, the 19th Amendment and the rise and fall of the stock market. (Click for larger image)

In addition to the theatrical presentation, each team was required to create a time capsule of the last ten years (1994-2003) including one item from each of the following ten categories: leadership, sports, art, music, literature, family life, religion, media, education and health. The students were required to state specifically what item would be included for each category along with an explanation of why that item was included. Students had an hour and a half to complete the time capsules which were then scored by the judges

The third task entitled “20th century Informania” required team members to answer 100 questions about the 20th century (not limited to America) in five categories: timeline, people, music, art, sports and literature. In the timeline category students had to match dates to such events as The Day of Infamy (1941).

The winners of the day’s SCIL competition were: First place, Monticello; second place, Tri-Valley; third place, Liberty; fourth place, Sullivan West and fifth place, Fallsburg.

The totals after three meets thus far this year are:

Sullivan West  576.96

Monticello  567.19

Eldred  536.59

Tri-Valley  531.68

Liberty  520.07

SCIL offers students a wonderful alternative to the traditional learning modalities of the classroom. In 1990 Bill Duncan, a teacher at Fallsburg High School, remarked to then-Superintendent Marilyn Wranek that “It’s a shame that students’ performance in academics doesn’t get as much recognition as athletics. There ought to be a league for academics.” She suggested he look into starting one. Calls to other teachers in various districts started the ball rolling. Competition at both the junior high and senior high level have been going since 1991.