Over book-talk and coffee with a friend this week, I learned about a documentary being featured in selected locations throughout the U.S. The film is called “Race to Nowhere,” initiated, compiled and directed by Vicki Abeles, a parent and a concerned citizen.
Film excerpts as well as more information are available online at www.racetonowhere.com The film is featured at select locations (four or five dozen strong) throughout the country. The website offers a plethora of tips on how every member of society can help reduce the stress and anxiety experienced by our youth today. Valid suggestions that all can and should consider.
The problem with this documentary, however, is that it doesn’t address the real crux of the youth burnout in the U.S. The basic premise of “Race to Nowhere” is that all educational institutions – public, private, charter – are responsible for the demise of childhood in our country. According to the online film trailer and text, the SCHOOLS in our country are at fault. The schools are expecting too much, pressuring kids, and creating competitive environments. Additionally, proponents do not believe schools should pressure students with tests, nor challenge their sense of self-esteem by emphasizing academic achievement and success.
“Race to Nowhere” ignores the totality of our culture, families, economics, norms, global demands. It isolates one small component of our place on the planet as the singular cause for stressed youngsters – U.S. educational institutions. Friends, our schools can always improve and they are not perfect. Yet, there is no country in the world that offers the freedom to learn and grow for ALL with the vision of a brighter future than the U.S. The doors of American schools are open and provide equal opportunity for every child.
There is a destination and there is a finish line. It is up to all of us to nurture and model appropriate values for our young people. Our society as a whole will reap the benefits or suffer the consequences as a result. As the African proverb reminds us, “…it takes an entire village to raise but one child.” The only race to nowhere is if we place the blame on our schools without taking personal responsibility to raise and nurture our children as parents and as a society.
What do you think? Are American schools to blame for stress disorders in our youth? Are schools too demanding? What are your experiences on this topic?
Please take a few moments to share your thoughts and thank you for stopping by.
5 thoughts on “RACE TO NOWHERE”
Trish, My impression from reading your blog was that you only have
viewed the trailer and not the whole movie. I have sen it twice now
and can tell you that the movie does not act to blame just the school system but a myriad
of factors from society, parents, schools and piers.
I would encourage you to see the film and which should facilitate
a dialogue and discussion around the pressures that kids face these days.
If you look at the statistics of cheating, drug abuse both street and rx and as well
as well as the significantly elevated suicide rate you would be alarmed. Look at
all of he recent shootings across america—-it’s just crazy.
WOW! Another movie about education in America! We had WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, then THE CARTEL, and now RACE TO NOWHERE! Despite my curiosity about all of them, I haven’t gotten to see any of them yet! Whatever the case, as someone who worked in the public schools for 16 years, I see the home and family life as the primary indicator of how every other aspect of a child’s life will fare. Everything from media diet to food diet, family relations, recreation and events, time for physical activity as well as quality sleep, and all the choices made related to each of these have a major impact on how one handles what may be perceived as stress or pressure. Schools, in and of themselves, cannot be the scapegoat for “stressed youngsters.” It may even be said that a number of schools, from time to time, have actually been a less stressful environment for some kids because of the structure, support, personnel, or training they were provided with.
Jennifer,
Thank you for your insightful response. Your experience validates the observations you share in your comment.
Your views and wisdom are so very much appreciated.
Trish
What a great blog! I look forward to reading more.
Kids do face stress everyday but then so do we all. The big stress for some children is now and has always been the inability to read. We must remember that reading is the key to all learning!
After teaching 20 years I now volunteer with an after school reading program; it is great to keep working with kids!
Deborah,
Thank you for your very wise and insightful comments. You are so right! Sometimes taking just a few minutes a day to read to children models that value as a life long habit. Thank you so much for mentioning and sharing your experience. Hope you will be a regular visitor. Trish
Trish, My impression from reading your blog was that you only have
viewed the trailer and not the whole movie. I have sen it twice now
and can tell you that the movie does not act to blame just the school system but a myriad
of factors from society, parents, schools and piers.
I would encourage you to see the film and which should facilitate
a dialogue and discussion around the pressures that kids face these days.
If you look at the statistics of cheating, drug abuse both street and rx and as well
as well as the significantly elevated suicide rate you would be alarmed. Look at
all of he recent shootings across america—-it’s just crazy.
WOW! Another movie about education in America! We had WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, then THE CARTEL, and now RACE TO NOWHERE! Despite my curiosity about all of them, I haven’t gotten to see any of them yet! Whatever the case, as someone who worked in the public schools for 16 years, I see the home and family life as the primary indicator of how every other aspect of a child’s life will fare. Everything from media diet to food diet, family relations, recreation and events, time for physical activity as well as quality sleep, and all the choices made related to each of these have a major impact on how one handles what may be perceived as stress or pressure. Schools, in and of themselves, cannot be the scapegoat for “stressed youngsters.” It may even be said that a number of schools, from time to time, have actually been a less stressful environment for some kids because of the structure, support, personnel, or training they were provided with.
Jennifer,
Thank you for your insightful response. Your experience validates the observations you share in your comment.
Your views and wisdom are so very much appreciated.
Trish
What a great blog! I look forward to reading more.
Kids do face stress everyday but then so do we all. The big stress for some children is now and has always been the inability to read. We must remember that reading is the key to all learning!
After teaching 20 years I now volunteer with an after school reading program; it is great to keep working with kids!
Deborah,
Thank you for your very wise and insightful comments. You are so right! Sometimes taking just a few minutes a day to read to children models that value as a life long habit. Thank you so much for mentioning and sharing your experience. Hope you will be a regular visitor. Trish