Hello All,

I just wanted to take a minute to weigh in from the point of view of 
someone who has been more lurker than participant on this topic of 
inspiring young students (of any age with regard to ABE students, of 
course) and their teachers.

A number of respondants and a number of suggested resources have spoken 
about "at-risk" youth.  As I do a considerable amount of my list 
lurking from the confines of my adult ed office in a small, rural high 
school, I've seen that youth in the inner cities as well as youth in 
affluent suburban schools are all members of this group of "at-risk 
youth."

Given the biology and physiology of growing up, mixed with the effect 
of expectations (or lack thereof) on behavior, all washed down with 
huge doses of the world via media and technology, I doubt that there is 
any young person who is not, at least for some period of time, at-risk 
in today's American educational system.

Perhaps one key to unlocking the inspiration and resiliance that 
students and teachers alike will need to succeed is the approach to 
learning that adult basic education has been embracing over this past 
decade; teachers as students and students as teachers, collaborative 
learning, modeling teaching, and peer experiences.

I've always felt there is a direct connection between the improved 
learning when the student is an active participant and the improved 
behavior of young people when they feel needed and valued.  Just as we 
have to invest a sense of "scholar-ability" into our students, we ought 
to let young people grow up with the knowledge that they are 
"response-able."  That's the kind of responsibility that is not about 
guilt or fault, it's about being capable of responding and interacting 
positively.

This might be another lens to look at inspirational books and movies through.

Bonnie Fortini
Machias A&CE
Machias, Maine