<p>Regarding the film: I wish that it could be shown at our high school, but it just wouldn’t be a good fit or a good political move because of our achievement gap and the prevailing attitude regarding what to do about it.
I can’t begin to tell you how unique our situation is - a Jewish community within the borders of a mid-sized city that sends kids to an urban public school. It just doesn’t happen elsewhere - well, maybe in Melbourne, Australia! We enjoy an incredibly great lifestyle because of this. It helps that our urban public school actually meets the needs of the kids whose families care about education.
But, the other side of the coin is that we have an achievement gap - and the message from the school is that the kids have to work really hard to overcome this. They would NOT be keen on showing anything that contradicts this message.</p>
<p>Funny you mentioned “Race to Nowhere” today. S just came back from his first day in his HS which is undergoing renervations. To hear him tell it the whole day was like running a race. A new wing opened up and classes were moved around, parts of the second floor are closed off requiring kids to go downstairs and back up again to get to some classrooms. Inspite of the fact that there are now more classrooms in the school than there were before break one class was moved to a portable. To hear S describe it the class following the portable class is at the opposite end of the school, he estimate a quarter mile away(probably pretty accurate.) Bells can’t be heard in the portables so class got out several minutes late. Kids get 6 minutes for passing, and a tardy if thay are late, 3 tardies equal Saturday school, missing Saturday school results in “In School Suspension”. This on top of all of the normal HS stress. It is going to be a long semester. I’m so looking forward to being finished with HS! Thanks,</p>
<p>I just wanted to vent and that title “Race to Nowhere” seemed to describe S’s day. Grrrrr</p>
<p>Vent away, spectrum2! Sounds like your S had a rough day :(</p>
<p>Just received an email from the rabbi - our temple is hosting a screening of “Race to Nowhere”, co-sponsored by the other two Reform congregations in town.</p>
<p>Our HS is considering showing “The Race to Nowhere.” It sounds like a good idea. </p>
<p>I was thinking about our discussion of AP courses in terms of the kid’s stress shown in the film. I think that AP courses are tough for most freshmen and sophomores. The kids feel pressured to take as many as possible to be competitive for college, but in some cases they would be better off taking the HS honors version of the course. The AP textbooks are written on a college level that some HS students aren’t ready for. The courses also tend to have summer work and vacation work that just adds to the pressure. We’re seeing on this thread that our students who have not taken the “most rigorous schedule” are doing fine with college acceptances.</p>
<p>I’m really glad that when my daughter was completely stressed out at the beginning of junior year we supported her decision to switch some of her classes. At the time, I was really worried that it would impact her options for college. She ended the year with strong grades, a very nice ACT score, and her driver’s license. This year she is taking 3 APs courses and is finding them challenging, but not overwhelming.</p>
<p>For those of you who have seen Race to Nowhere:</p>
<p>The film sounds wonderful but I wonder if it would be working accross purposes in our school district if I tried to bring the film to us. While there definitely are stresses that go with being in HS and prepping for college, compared to what I hear in other parts of the country we aren’t a high stress high school from an academic perspective. (Sometimes the biggest stresses are externally imposed like creating a system where kids need to sprint to class to avoid tardies :)) In recent years many parents and educators have been working toward making our schools more supportive of academic excellence and more supportive of students who are interested in going to a nationally recognized colleges or universities. There has historically been a lot of emphasis on athletics and EC’s to the point that there were major EC events scheduled on the eve of the PSAT. Coincidentally up until recently when changes were made we usually had no NMSF’s in our school in spite of a large percentage of students testing. Most students took the SAT with little to no prep. The district has recently made prep classes available to students at an affordable fee. What I’m saying is there is a lot of work being done to bring our HS up academically in terms of course offerings and opportunities and a lot of work that still needs to be done. I do see kids working hard but there just doesn’t seem to be the kind of competitive spirit that I hear about in other areas. (This true even though the school distributes rankings and the to 10% rule is a factor.) It sounds like the message of the film is a good one for all of us connected to education to hear. The question is would the message that people from our area walk away with be to back off working to improve the academics at our school? I’m asking because there are several contacts I could make to try and bring a screening to our area but I am a little worried that the intended message might be lost and that the end result might be damaging to the efforts to make improvements. I personally would love to see the film.</p>
<p>Would you be willing to go to school in New York? If so, SUNY Binghamton (which would be a reach school) has a large Jewish population. Also, Touro College is mostly Jewish populated. </p>
<p>Hope I helped in someway.</p>
<p>spectrum2: I am wondering the same thing. Our school district needs to strike a balance between famlies who push and families who are totally not involved. If I could see the film myself, I could make a judgement about whether or not it would be a good thing for our district. I emailed the link this morning to my friend who is on the school board; she hadn’t heard of it before…</p>
<p>PRJ: Where are you located? Maybe the thread members can meet up at your temple for the screening!</p>
<p>D is off on the train now - for a NFTY reunion then a camp reunion. Then she goes to FL with me on Saturday. I wish I was a college student again…</p>
<p>I sent articels about Ract to Nowhere to our head of guidance and principal. Perhaps coincidentally, the film was shown a few months later. RVM describes it perfectly.</p>
<p>spectrum and LINYMOM, thanks for adding your perspective on the film. Our high school is so bimodal. The high achieving kids, and there are a lot of them, do incredibly well and bring the statistics for the whole school up. They get into great colleges and do very well in life. But there is an achievement gap along racial and socioeconomic lines, and the kids and parents are very aware of the need to do something about that. Many would be reluctant for the low achieving kids to receive the message that is apparently inherent in this film. I would love to see it. I think that I will have to convince one of my friends who lives in a more homogenous affluent suburban district to request a screening.</p>
<p>hi all…being away and occupied (with not necessarily good things) for the last two weeks can’t possibly catch up on everything; congrats though to the Binghamton admits!!; a number of kids around here have been admitted as well and are planning to attend…all “B” students…</p>
<p>also Updating:
Vitrac: two daughters (Tulane '14 and high school '13)
Shawbridge: one son, one daughter
PRJ: two daughters (Brandeis '13 and high school '12)
Seiclan: two daughters (UF graduate '10 and UCF '12, one son - high school '12)
RVM: two sons, college at Wake Forest, high school junior
Umich: two sons, high school senior and freshman
spectrum: two sons
Yabe: one son, one daughter
momjr: two daughters, UPenn '12, HS senior–> BU
slitheytove: two daughters
Linymom: one daughter, one son, college freshman UDel, high school sophomore
college4three: two daughters, one son, Columbia
levirm: two daughters, two sons
mhc48: two daughers, one son
cherryhillmomto2: two sons
mdmomfromli: two daughters, high school junior and freshman
chocchip: two sons, high school senior, Tufts and freshman
Mom24boys: four sons, high school sophmore, 8th grade and twins in kindergarten
rodney: two daughters: Syracuse Newhouse '12, HS senior>>>>>Elon '15</p>
<p>LINYMOM: I’m in Central Ohio, so kind of a long trip from LI, but you’re more than welcome! (We do live parallel lives - D2 spent several days over break at a NFTY/camp reunion ;))</p>
<p>spectrum2: I have similar reservations about trying to bring the film to our school district, so I’m glad I will have a chance to see it at temple. We are in a small town outside a major metro area, and the vast majority in our community are happy with schools that are “good enough”. There is a small, but growing movement to increase the availability of academic challenges, so I would worry about the film derailing those efforts.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads-up about the movie, which sounds very worthwhile. Will have to keep an eye out for it.</p>
<p>Fixing the updating:
Vitrac: two daughters (Tulane '14 and high school '13)
Shawbridge: one son, one daughter
PRJ: two daughters (Brandeis '13 and high school '12)
Seiclan: two daughters (UF graduate '10 and UCF '12, one son - high school '12)
RVM: two sons, college at Wake Forest, high school junior
Umich: two sons, high school senior and freshman
spectrum: two sons
Yabe: one son, one daughter
momjr: two daughters, UPenn '12, HS senior–> BU
slitheytove: two daughters
Linymom: one daughter, one son, college freshman UDel, high school sophomore
college4three: two daughters, one son, Columbia
levirm: two daughters, two sons
mhc48: two daughers, one son
cherryhillmomto2: two sons
mdmomfromli: two daughters, high school junior and freshman
chocchip: two sons, high school senior, Tufts and freshman
Mom24boys: four sons, high school sophomore, 8th grade and twins in kindergarten
peonies: two daughters (college and HS)
collage1: three daughters, UPenn '13, HS senior, HS freshman
rodney: two daughters: Syracuse Newhouse '12, HS senior>>>>>Elon '15</p>
<p>I really don’t follow college football at all, but stumbled on this article about U of Wisconsin player Gabe Carimi in another thread and thought you all would enjoy it: [Gabe</a> Carimi: U of Wisc. Star in Shul and On the Football Field | The Jewish Week](<a href=“http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national/gabe_carimi_u_wisc_star_shul_and_football_field]Gabe”>http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national/gabe_carimi_u_wisc_star_shul_and_football_field)</p>
<p>rodney, I hope everything is OK! PM me if you need a virtual shoulder.</p>
<p>Thanks, PRJ!
Several years ago, a friend’s son who was a star athlete in college was struggling with the decision about playing on Yom Kippur. I said, “I know exactly what you told him! You told him that Sandy Koufax didn’t play in the World Series on Yom Kippur!”
Her answer, “How did you KNOW what I said?”
Haha. All Jewish parents have been using that example for years. Now we have a new role model of a star athlete who feels strongly about his Judaism. Thanks, Gabe Carimi!</p>
<p>levirm and spectrum2 - I agree with you that the film “Race to Nowhere” might not be appropriate for showing at all high schools. It’s very relevant at high-performing, high-stress high schools on the east coast and west coast - and I’m sure other places in between - but if your hs does not have kids killing themselves to get into Ivy League schools or the close equivalent - than probably not all that relevant. I understand that there are many areas of the country where the college admissions process is no big deal and kids are not focused on their resume from age 10! So, I understand your reluctance - but if you ever have a chance to see it - you may still find it of interest.</p>
<p>Really great article on Gabe Carimi, PRJ, thanks for sharing! 
Yeah, I guess he’s the Sandy Koufax of this generation!</p>
<p>Sounds like I have some reading to do…the book about the Blessing of a B-child sounds like it will be beneficial for me this next go 'round…and the movie also sounds like it would be appropriate to watch, hope I get the chance. Totally different children in this household like so many of you…one child motivated, hard working, study habits are excellent, top honors and very much a leader, and the other child also very smart, but still learning how to study properly, not as motivated, much more introverted…hopefully he will be able to shine more when big brother leaves for college in the fall.</p>
<p>Momjr: How’s your D1 feeling these days? Hope it didn’t spread around your household!</p>
<p>^^^ Oops! Sounds like I say “sounds like” a lot!!! :)</p>
<p>chocchipcookie…interesting what you said about your younger child getting a chance to shine once his brother leaves for school. I’ve been thinking the same thing…I’m really hoping that once he doesn’t have the constant in-his-face from his brother’s achievements (both at home and in school), some of the pressure will let up and he’ll be able to be more comfortable w/ himself and what he is able to do for himself.</p>
<p>CCC: I’m happy to report that my daughter is finally feeling better. She was really sick for two weeks, but should be fine by the time she returns to school on Sunday. Thanks for asking.</p>