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IMPORTANT FILM SCREENING AT PHS ON NOV 15

By Jess Deutsch
                                          Hard-Hitting Education Documentary Exposes The Dark Side of the Achievement Culture
OPENING AT PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL
NOVEMBER 15TH AT 7:30PM
PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 151 MOORE ST, Princeton NJ
 REGISTER AT www.rtnprincetonu.eventbrite.com.
Princeton, NJ : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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.  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.  
Thanks to the interest and support of the Riverside Elementary School PTO and a small group of volunteers, the Princeton community will screen RACE TO NOWHERE at Princeton High School on Nov 15th at 7:30 pm, with a discussion facilitated by Nic Voge, a Riverside parent and associate director of the Princeton University McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.  “We think the message of this film is critical for everyone who is raising, teaching, and working with kids today. I think RACE TO NOWHERE is the beginning of a conversation that we can’t afford not to have,” said event organizer Jess Deutsch.  “The essence of childhood and our kids’ well-being— these really hang in the balance.”  Organizers hope to fill the 750 seat Performing Arts Center at PHS with parents, teachers, coaches, mental health and health professionals, and all who share an interest in the future of this generation.  Featuring the 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 is a call to action to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. In a grassroots groundswell, the Princeton community is joining hundreds of theaters, schools and organizations nationwide who are hosting community screenings.  The hope is that across the country, communities will come together, using the film as the centerpiece for a growing national dialogue on how to end the “race to nowhere,” and develop positive, practical, educationally-sound and healthy strategies that make more sense for our kids.
 “As a mother, I experienced the stress firsthand and realized that no one was talking about it,” says Vicki Abeles. “I saw kids who were anxious, depressed, physically ill, checking out, abusing drugs and, worst case, attempting suicide. I felt compelled to speak out about this crisis by making a film and giving voice to the students, teachers, and parents.  I wanted to expose a deeper truth about our education system.  We are graduating a generation of robo-students, unable to think and work independently, creatively and collaboratively.”
School reform has become an urgent national issue and 2010 is the year of the education film. Race to Nowhere  shows what is actually happening to our kids as a result of current policies and practices obsessed with testing, performance and competition rather than meaningful teaching and learning. Race to Nowhere gives voice to those on the front lines who are most affected by education policies  – the students and teachers themselves. Race to Nowhere spotlights the intersection of health and education.  The film empowers everyone to get involved and take ownership of what’s happening in our schools and communities.
“Every once in a while, a film comes along that has the potential to change the culture,” said New York Times bestselling author Rachel Simmons (Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls).  “Race to Nowhere shines a light on the crisis of learning and meaning facing American education. The film is both a call to arms and a beacon of hope, a source of relief …  and a way forward for all of us."
Proceeds from this community event will benefit the Riverside Elementary School PTO, 101: and the Princeton Education Foundation.
For more information, visit: www.racetonowhere.com or contact Jess Deutsch [email protected] or Riva Levy [email protected]
Media Contacts:
Entertainment/Film Media:
David Magdael
[email protected] – 213-624-7827
Non-Entertainment Media:
Josh Baran
[email protected]  – 917-797-1799