Tomorrow evening the Algonquin Parent Teacher Organization will host a screening of the documentary Race to Nowhere. Billed as a call to action for families and educators, the film shines a light on “the dark side of America’s achievement culture.”
Race to Nowhere has been screened in hundreds of communities across the country as part of a grass-roots campaign for education reform. Here’s more information about the film.
A concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children’s lives, creating unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared and stressed-out youth. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people in all types of communities who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace; students are disengaged; stress-related illness and depression are rampant; and many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.
The screening tomorrow at Algonquin starts at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance (purchase online) or $15 at the door. For those interested, a small discussion group will be held after the screening.
(Image from www.racetonowhere.com)
Only $10? You’re kidding, right? When is the release date for the DVD? If the school department really wants parents to go out and se this, how about – drumroll please –
free?
For those seriously considering spending the $10 or $15, be sure to read some of the reviews of this film posted on the internet. Interesting reading.
Although some towns have been able to show the movie for free, when we contacted them about showing it in our community they really wanted us to follow their screening guidelines which included charging for the film.