Race to Nowhere

Gr 8 Up—An eye-opening look at the pressures kids face today and a clarion call to reexamine our nation's educational system and cultural values. Director Vicki Abeles was inspired to make this film after witnessing the negative effects of stress on her children and in her community. She shares their stories, along with those of young people from across the country and from various socioeconomic strata who are feeling pushed to the limits by overpacked schedules, interminable homework, extracurricular activities, and resume-building that starts early on. What emerges is a startling portrait of kids who are driven to succeed by any means possible (staying up late to study, cheating, or abusing stimulants), while others are pushed into giving up and dropping out (or facing serious health issues, such as depression and suicide). Interspersed throughout these candid segments are interviews with teachers, education experts, and health practitioners who expand upon the themes with professional insights and research. Plenty of hot-button issues are raised, including the fallout from the emphasis on testing, the downside of implementing standardized curricula, arguments for limiting homework and abolishing AP classes, and the failure to develop critical and creative thinkers. The importance of play and downtime, mental and physical health, and different learning styles are also stressed. A true dialogue starter, the movie challenges viewers to think about students as individuals and to redefine success. With sections addressed to specific audiences (parents/concerned adults, educators/administrators, students), the companion volume provides additional information and resources for stimulating discussion in different venues and for taking action.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal