Does Bridge have any Academic Value?

I could write a treatise on the academic value your child will gain by learning bridge. But since I've promised to keep each blog short and sweet, hitting the high points only...here we go!

Chris Shaw did a study on the effect learning bridge had on students standardized test scores. In his area the schools use the Iowa Test of Basic Skills where the students take the test at the beginning of the year and then in subsequent years to judge (by the increase in their test scores) how much the children have learned over the course of the school years. He took six math classes (not special classes, not special students, just regular classes)and taught one class Bridge. In that first year, the students who learned bridge scored anywhere from 6% to 14% higher across the board than the students who did not learn bridge. You numbers people can find the complete study at
http://btfy.org/documents/Shaw%20BRIDGE%20AND%20TEST%20SCORES.pdf

This study probably reflects all those mathematical skills you hone when you play bridge like; Numbers and Operations, Data Analysis,
Probability, Algebra, Problem Solving and Reasoning and Proof.

Not to mention those 'soft' mental and social skills like; Partnership, Teamwork, Communication and Operating Within a Set of Rules.

Is their any other activity your child participates in that can offer THAT?