A student blows up at a teacher, drops the F-bomb. The usual approach at Lincoln – and, safe to say, at most high schools in this country – is automatic suspension. Instead, Sporleder sits the kid down and says quietly: “Wow. Are you OK? This doesn’t sound like you. What’s going on?”

He gets even more specific: “You really looked stressed. On a scale of 1-10, where are you with your anger?” The kid was ready. Ready, man! For an anger blast to his face….”How could you do that?” “What’s wrong with you?”…and for the big boot out of school. But he was NOT ready for kindness.

The armor-plated defenses melt like ice under a blowtorch and the words pour out: “My dad’s an alcoholic. He’s promised me things my whole life and never keeps those promises.” The waterfall of words that go deep into his home life, which is no piece of breeze, end with this sentence: “I shouldn’t have blown up at the teacher.” Whoa.

Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries new approach to school discipline — suspensions drop 85% (via mchotdog)

what a radical idea yo

(via matthewdgold)

Bam. Kids “misbehave” for actual, real, valid reasons. And have feelings.

(via amydentata)

For fuck’s sake, it takes the people in charge so long to figure shit like this out! Good for Lincoln High!

(via psychetimelapse)

This needs to be the policy EVERYWHERE…

(via 3dela)

(via amynamouse)

Source: acestoohigh.com

I want all these young people to be getting a higher education, and I don’t want them loaded up with tens of thousands of dollars of debt just to get an education. That’s how we make America great.

Of course, that means all of you all have got to hit the books. I’m just saying. Don’t cheer and then you didn’t do your homework.

Because that’s part of the bargain—America says we will give you opportunity, but you’ve got to earn your success.

You’re competing against young people in Beijing and Bangalore. They’re not hanging out. They’re not playing video games. They’re not watching “Real Housewives.” I’m just saying. It’s a two-way street. You’ve got to earn success.

That wasn’t in my prepared remarks. But I’m just saying.
President Obama today, keeping it real (via barackobama)
thenewrepublic: Occupy the universities? With the costs of a college education astonishingly high and youth job prospects incredibly dim in this economy, is going to college worth it anymore? “The students in Zuccotti Park are right to focus on the injustices of student debt: Many of them are indentured to the very banks that destroyed the economy and along with it the jobs students need to pay their loans back. The banks were bailed out for their trouble, while students are left with debt that, thanks to financial industry lobbying, can’t be discharged in bankruptcy. Outstanding student loans in the United States are projected to reach $1 trillion this year, a larger sum than credit card debt.” - Kevin Carey “Why Obama Should Pay Attention To Occupy Wall Street’s Critique of Higher Education” Photo courtesy of Andy Wibbels.
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thenewrepublic:

Occupy the universities?

With the costs of a college education astonishingly high and youth job prospects incredibly dim in this economy, is going to college worth it anymore?

“The students in Zuccotti Park are right to focus on the injustices of student debt: Many of them are indentured to the very banks that destroyed the economy and along with it the jobs students need to pay their loans back. The banks were bailed out for their trouble, while students are left with debt that, thanks to financial industry lobbying, can’t be discharged in bankruptcy. Outstanding student loans in the United States are projected to reach $1 trillion this year, a larger sum than credit card debt.”

- Kevin Carey “Why Obama Should Pay Attention To Occupy Wall Street’s Critique of Higher Education”

Photo courtesy of Andy Wibbels.

(via liberalsarecool)

Source: thenewrepublic

barackobama:

If you’ve got student loans, you’re going to want to watch this video. 

President Obama just took two major steps to make life easier for people with student loans, and there’s a good chance you or someone you know will benefit from them really soon. After you’ve watched, tweet/re-blog/Facebook it to get out the good word.

I’m Kinda Disappointed

Today when I walked into one of my classes, everyone who was already there was giggling and some were outright laughing. I sat down and immediately had to know, “Why is everyone laughing?” I thought maybe someone had said something funny or played a prank on someone; I wasn’t sure. But then I found out that everyone was laughing at the teacher.

She had a piece of toilet paper stuck to her behind and she had no idea. It wasn’t long enough for her to notice it; she spent a good half hour teaching class with it on her butt and everyone was laughing the entire time. She just thought we were rowdy today or something was up. 

I’ll admit, I thought it was funny initially, but when people started to outright make fun of her, that’s where I draw the line. I was appalled when another kid asked her to do write an example on the board when he obviously didn’t need it. She kept brushing him off saying, “It won’t be on the test. Let’s move on.” But he kept at it so that she would turn her back to the class and the paper would be visible. 

The problem was, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t just raise my hand in the middle of class and say, “Mrs. ____, you have a piece of toilet paper stuck to your butt.” So I waited as I knew we were going to the book room to return out books in a short while.

Luckily, there were a few other kids who felt the same way I did. As we were walking to the book room, another kid went up to her and quietly told her about the piece of paper. The teacher laughed it off but you could tell she was embarrassed. I can’t imagine what she’s going to feel when she realizes why the class was laughing for so long. And we have no idea what she was really thinking on the inside when that happened. I would bet that she was covering up a lot more than we realize. 

I did think it was rude and vulgar that people were making fun of her. I know that some kids took pictures. Some kids complained to the kid that told the teacher about the paper that she should have let her keep it on all period. That’s just crude and completely immature. I thought that we could move past the point where we make fun of people for their little mistakes. 

I think about what Leigh’s TOPS (Teens Offering Peer Support) class just did with their anti-bullying campaign. It’s not just the students at school that get bullied and made fun of. The teachers are just as affected by it as everyone else. While most high school teachers have pretty tough skins, making fun of someone personally can always seriously damage their personal image and make them dread coming to school. Teachers are the reason that we can get the jobs that make 6-figures or live a comfortable lifestyle because they educated us. We may not like the class but I’m sure every teacher is dedicated to educating us so we should give them a little respect and kindness every once and a while.