The Mountain View High School PTSA is organizing ParentEd workshops, informational evenings etc. to create more awareness. The following events are coming up:

Parent Education Event, Thursday, March 25th 6:30pm - 8:30pm, 6Dr. Ginsburg: Building Resilience in Children and Teens:
Spagenberg Theatre, Gunn High School, 780 Arastardero Road, Palo Alto
Admission is FREE, No RSVP, Please carpool and arrive early.

3 Hour Workshop “Resilience Building Strategies for Our Youth” Saturday, March 27th 8:30am – 11:30am Target audience: Educators, counselors and health professionals. Parents welcome.
Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave, Los Altos
Admission is FREE, Reservation required: Web Link

Viewing of the documentary "Race to Nowhere" May 13, 7PM at Foothill College, Los Altos. (www.racetonowhere.com. Race to Nowhere is a documentary film examining the pressures faced by youth, teachers and parents in our achievement obsessed education system and culture. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried students aren’t developing the skills needed, and parents who are trying to do what's best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic running rampant in our schools


Please email me if you have any questions: ankyvandeursen@hotmail.com

I think we have to use technology and the internet to make it easier for any kid with the desire to attend any college he wants. This competition for limited higher education resources is crazy.

Well, it's interesting that the kids and Dr. Phil didn't mention the schools themselves. Why is ANY child takign 5 AP classes? Aren't there any counselors anymore? Doesn't someone at the school have to sign and approve the schedule? That simply would not have been possible 15 or 20 years ago; not that many AP classes even existed!! The stress is coming from the lack of hours in the day to do all the things the kids are "set up" to do. You can blame them, or the parents, and/or the schools. It's the combination of all of the above. However the schools need to take a hard look at what they allow in their classrooms; too many emotionally fragile children are over-burdening themselves with honors and AP classes which will NOT get them into Stanford and Harvard because, let's face it, only one or two kids per year from Gunn or Paly or MVHS or whatever even GETS into that one school. So, let's be real and say, "what do you need to get into the school which fits your needs and expectations?"
These kids DO feel like they are competing with nameless, faceless drones across the country, trying to get that one Stanford spot. A responsible adult, whether it be a parent or teacher or mentor, needs to step in and tell the kid what their level of expectations and achievements SHOULD be for their emotional and physical well-being.