Medfield Provides Public Viewing of 'Race To Nowhere'

“Everyone expects to be super heroes,” one student said.

And these so-called “super heroes” have taken on a formidable task, that of overcoming the demands placed upon them by parents, educators and even themselves, in a quest that’s “all about preparing yourself to look good for college,” as another student put it. “It’s a race to nowhere.”

Although these comments didn’t emanate from any particular Medfield High School student, the real possibility that they conceivably could have has not been lost on educators.

As a way to recognize the real problem of student stress and to share that information with concerned parents, the Medfield Coalition for Public Education in conjunction with school administration, presented the award-winning film “Race To Nowhere” on April 14 in the Lowell Mason Auditorium at Medfield High School.

The film, produced and directed by Vicki Abeles, “is a call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens," according to the Race To Nowhere website.

During its 85 minute run-time, "Race to Nowhere" features comments from students from school systems all across the U.S., each one detailing how the increasing demands placed on their time has affected their mood, social life and even their health. The director of the film, herself a mom, used her 13 year-old daughter as an example.

“My daughter began to complain of headaches and stomach aches,” Abeles told the film audience, attributing the symptoms to the educational workload placed on the student. “A 13-year-old girl in our community attempted suicide and that started me thinking,” Abeles noted, explaining the inspiration for the film.

Educators and mental-health professionals added their own thoughts on the spiraling problem in America’s educational system, with one suggesting that “Kids who look normal on the outside [may be] bleeding underneath” due to stress factors. One 10th grader complained of receiving so much homework that she would have to stay up all night, in order to complete her assignments. “Kids who need nine hours of sleep are getting six,” one health professional reminded viewers.

Though the film’s length precluded a question and answer session between audience and educators, newly named Medfield High School principal, Robert Parga, assured the audience that their comments and questions would be eagerly accepted.

“You were given an index card on your way in,” he reminded those in attendance, “jot down some comments and questions and leave [the cards] in the boxes on your way out. What we’re going to do is compile [the input] and share them at the administration level.”

Additionally, parents who viewed the film were invited to attend a group discussion, to be held at United Church of Christ on Wednesday, April 27 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The discussion will be facilitated by Jon Mattleman, a mental health counselor and trainer.

Also provided for those in the audience was a list of “Strategies to Reduce Stress For Your Child,” taken from the “S.O.S.” project at Stanford University. The list suggests the following strategies:

Define Success on Your Terms

“The prevailing culture focuses on measurable achievement (GPA, SAT scores, etc.) in defining success. Be clear what success looks like for your family and make sure your kids understand that.

Create a Family Plan

“Determine the level of extracurricular activity and academic load that works for your family and don’t overdo it."

Insist On Food and Sleep

“A leading determinant on youth wellness and achievement is regular family dinners, so make those a priority. In addition, on average, teens need 9 ½ hours sleep. There is no way to cheat this biological requirement. Sleep is an important factor in memory development.”

End the Homework Wars

“If homework is a power struggle, then it’s likely that you are too invested in it. Let kids make mistakes and fail, especially when the stakes are relatively low, like with homework. When we rescue our children, we deny them the opportunity to develop resilience and fortitude as they struggle with challenges.”

Debunk the College Myths

“Focus your message to your kids on finding the right fit for them, not simply getting into ‘brand name’ colleges. Research shows that it’s the individual, not the institution that ultimately determines success.”

Listen to Your Gut and Your Child

“The prevailing culture often suggest that you have to push your kids and involve them in lots of activities or ‘they’ll fall behind’. Instead, trust your instincts and set a pace for your kids that works for them and your family. Talk to your kids to see how they are feeling and calibrate activities accordingly.”

Opening remarks for the evening were given by Annmarie Keleher, on behalf of the Medfield Coalition For Public Education. Keleher thanked the community for “the generous support you’ve given us over the past 20-plus years, allowing us to provide support for grants of various topics [such as] this showing.” She also credited MCPE members, Rose O’Reilly, Susan Gorog and Laura Eselius who “spent many hours behind the scenes, to make this evening possible.”

Closing remarks were made by MHS vice principal, Jeff Sperling, Dawn Alcott and Amanda Nealon of Medfield Youth Outreach and School Superintendent Bob Maguire.