I have heard so much about this film and its message that I agreed* to post information about their upcoming event called “The Sleep Challenge.” You can find much more information on End the Race.org.

In honor of National Sleep Awareness Week (March 5-11), the people who brought you the film, “Race to Nowhere”, are offering physicians and medical professionals across the country the first-ever chance to view the film via a free, online live stream at http://www.racetonowhere.com/physicians

Their hope is that every medical professional in the country will see this film and will support the effort to propose, create and nurture school policies and practices that prioritize balance and health in students’ lives—including making time for sleep.

Hard-Hitting Education Documentary Urges Action on Student Sleep

Now, in recognition of National Sleep Awareness Week (March 5-11, 2012) the team behind “Race to Nowhere” calls on schools to take targeted action on student sleep. The Sleep Challenge, launched on the film’s online action platform End the Race.org, helps students and their families understand the importance of sleep to learning and health. It rallies schools nationwide to explore a range of policies—including later school start times, block scheduling, mandatory study halls, and school-wide bans on caffeine—that shift student schedules to allow for healthy, consistent, nighttime sleep. The challenge is one in a series of calls-to-action supported by the End the Race.org movement.

National Sleep Awareness Week is an annual public education and awareness campaign sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation, a charitable, educational, and scientific not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving sleep health and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that teenage students receive 9.25 hours of sleep each night but reports that that 15% of teens report sleeping 8.5 hours on school nights.

“Having toured thousands of schools with “Race to Nowhere”, I’ve seen that making time for adequate, healthful sleep is among the most overlooked priorities among schools, parents and teachers,” says Vicki Abeles, the first-time director of “Race to Nowhere”. “An incredible consensus is building that we need to align our educational practices—in the home and in school—with what we know about children’s and adolescent health. And that means committing to school policies that put student sleep first.”

The film has already ignited change in dozens of schools and districts in the wake of “Race to Nowhere” screenings, including:
• Campbell Hall (Los Angeles, CA), which shifted to a later start time.
• Ridgefield High School (Ridgefield, NJ), which shifted to block scheduling.
• Loudoun County Public Schools (VA), which started a district-wide later-start-time initiative.
• Millburn High School (Milburn, NJ), where more than 200 students and parents signed a national petition
for later school start times.
• Bishop O’Dowd School (Oakland, CA), which shifted to a later start time, and restructured the school day
to include more study halls and time for socializing.
• Fairfax County (VA), where over 2,000 survey respondents voted in favor of later start times.

Unique Distribution and Outreach: An independently produced and distributed film—boasting no studio backing or commercial distribution and untethered to third-party corporate or advocacy interests—Race to Nowhere has been distributed uniquely through grassroots, community platforms. Director Vicki Abeles notes that this distinctive distribution approach reflects her priority to link the film to action and on-the-ground social impact. “When you step outside the conventional distribution approach and encourage audiences to engage with film not as consumers but as activists and stakeholders, you begin to see the incredible power of documentary to effect change in our communities,” Abeles says. The film will not be released on retail home DVD until 2012—part of a deliberate strategy to enhance brick- and-mortar community engagement with the film before it’s available for private, home use.

Press Attention for Race to Nowhere:
The Washington Post: “Riveted to this disturbing tableau were more than 300 parents and educators, including Elise Browne Hughes, 46, who wiped away tears one recent evening in Bethesda while watching the documentary “Race to Nowhere,” which is becoming a growing grassroots phenomenon in the achievement-minded Washington area and beyond. “It’s in the culture, and it kind of feeds on itself,” said Hughes, a mother of two sons who paid $10 for a ticket and braved the heavy rain to watch the film at Walt Whitman High School. For her and thousands of others nationwide, the film has raised difficult questions about how to raise well-adjusted children at a time when schools seem test- obsessed, advanced classes are the norm and parents worry that their children will not go as far in life as they have.” (10/7/2010)
Katie Couric, former CBS News Anchor: “I interviewed Vicki Abeles on my web show today and was struck by her message. ‘Schools are not factories’, she argues, ‘and children aren’t products to be fixed and tested.’ Over- scheduled, stressed-out kids aren’t just less competitive, they are miserable. One study found that 15% of U.S. high school students had seriously considered suicide. This film is a poignant reminder that straight A’s and high SAT scores are not the Holy Grail. We all want our kids to excel, but I’d take a happy child over a ‘depressed success’ any day of the week.” (3/1/2011)
The Washington Post: “If Obama really wants to help promote education films, he could take a look at “Race to Nowhere,” a documentary that isn’t backed by a Gates grant but explores the strains of competing in a pressure- packed academic culture that is highly test-driven and pushes some students to the edge. His time would better be spent by talking to education experts who aren’t enamored with his policies and using his extraordinary intellect to come to understand how he is getting education so wrong.” (10/11/2010)
The New York Times: “Spurred by the medical and emotional problems of her own three children, Ms. Abeles embarked on a deeply personal inquiry into the insanely hectic lives of too many of our offspring. Rushing from class to sports practice, from community work to homework, and relying increasingly on stimulants and sleep deprivation, these kids seem more pressured than the average C.E.O. Documenting consequences that range from depression to eating disorders to suicide, the film’s medical professionals share Ms. Abeles’ alarm and her awareness that blame, if it exists, is systemic and with little current incentive to change.” (9/9/2010)

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* I received no compensation for posting this content. I posted it because I think it’s important information.

Just watch:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640


Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

and this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In the MSM, Rachel Maddow says that she tries to “increase the amount of useful information in the world” and that she’s not trying to “push any particular agenda of any stripe” rather she is trying to make the world “make more sense.” Well, I am glad she does and I hope and pray that people attempt to get the facts rather than believe all the lies and spin being dished out for lobbyists and special interest groups.

And, specifically with respect to health insurance reform, I appreciate Ms. Maddow’s efforts to explain what’s happening on the Hill and how the Democrats should respond.

Take a moment to check out this video:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I am not a proponent of big, bloated bureaucracy (either within the federal government or within private health insurance companies).  On the contrary, as a proud hard working former civil servant, I fought hard to ensure accountability, quality and efficiency in our country’s health care system. I saw the waste in the system first hand, so I have reason to support a more efficient government that protects its citizens and rewards hard work. One that inspires its citizens to be the best people they can be, that puts politics aside to achieve goals that are consistent with the founding principles of the country. A government with a brilliant leader who is strong enough to assert firm boundaries in keeping with his family values and to address thorny, controversial, difficult issues head on in a calm and assertive manner. In which its civil servants from the lowliest postal employee to the most senior member of Congress support and assist our president instead of trying to defeat him for their own political gain (or for their largest donors’ political gains).

But, when that’s not possible, perhaps we have to resort to a bit of strong arming. When the government includes factions that seek to undermine sound policies solely to defeat their (perceived) opponent, the majority party should act on behalf of its constituents and do the right thing. Do what those constituents elected the majority to do.

So I agree with Ms. Maddow when she says the Democrats need to stand up to the bullies and refuse to back down. Be a shining example to our children of how to face a bully. Stop playing Mr. Nice Guy who seeks an idealistic but unrealistic bipartisan solution. The perfect or ideal plan is impossible when the other half of that “partisan ship” (so to speak) is determined to sink it.

Let go of the fear and embrace the good enough solution.