I brought back a few observations concerning the state of the high school student mind, not to sound overly pompous. I spent something like 24 total hours working with 8 girls and 3 guys during the workshop and that time together means opinions were shared and questions asked.
To a person (11 of 11), the Roe reversal was upsetting and puzzling. When it came time to write a personal commentary draft, many chose to vent a bit about how they resented the loss of a freedom while steaming about six judges in far-off D.C., evidently blasé about upending lives.
None of them may have had to confront unintended pregnancies -- I honestly don't know -- but everyone understands having a right suddenly taken away. Radical Republicans should not count on their votes any time soon.
Another observation: kids have shifted their thinking from "if" there is school shooting in their building to "when," and that was startling. Again, they were an equal mix of angry, confused, and fearful when the topic of gun violence came up.
America is pretty good at simply shrugging and getting on with it after even the most horrific shootings, and that means nothing will be done anytime soon. Same with the virus and its many variants. We are all fatalistic at this point, which means vaccination rates will remain where they are and unnecessary suffering will continue. Voices of reason need some leaders to change the momentum here.
A third observation: each student valued having someone they could trust (or at least tolerate) talk with them about their writing. I was disturbed by how many of these bright students volunteered that no one ever really discussed their writing with them, offering suggestions and support and asking questions.
We could all agree that something is wrong with education and that no one was satisfied with how school works or how learning is supported. Everyone desires more time to simply talk with a teacher about their work, and everyone agrees that school is not structured to provide more time for such activities.
I began our day on opinion writing by showing the famous clip from the 1976 film "Network," and the "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore" scene. We had some fun chanting it, over and over. It was cathartic, though, just as in the movie, what we should do with our anger is not entirely clear.
I encouraged them to make a list of what makes them "mad as hell," and to then start thinking about how to chip away at the injustices or poor design or ill-considered policies and rules. Simple anger provides us with a short rush of adrenaline but we need to morph that adrenaline into action of some sort.
To be a student journalist requires energy and motivation, and anger can get those started. The key for those students this coming year is to create strategies and techniques that they can use to make a difference in the world, even if that difference is quite small.
For the radical right, the Roe reversal has provided new energy. If you can impose your will on an entire country in one case, why not try some more restrictions? Authoritarians and fanatics will never be satisfied. No abortion in my state? Hoorah! But now, let's talk about the neighboring state."
If life is a game, the radical CINOs are in the midst of a good stretch for them. But fortunes can change, and I could sense a lot of energy coming from more progressive directions and thinking.
The kids are all right. Or can be.
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