“Race to Nowhere” screening by CVDAPC hopes to help parents, students navigate academic hurdles.

By Brandon HENSLEY

The Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition will screen the documentary “Race to Nowhere” in the CV High School auditorium on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.

The 2009 film, which is shown at schools nationwide, shows how teachers, parents and policy makers deal with preparing today’s youth for success in the 21st Century.

According to the film’s website, “Race to Nowhere” follows students “who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids.”

“It’s about how kids today are stressed out and how parents and families are stressed out,” said Kim Beattie, vice president of the Coalition.

Beattie said there are health concerns when it comes to putting pressure on kids.

“This film shows how kids are on the street, and how to maybe pull them back a little, and how to focus on their education, but also on their health,” she said.

Beattie added that the Coalition likes to host quarterly or monthly events and provide parents with health and well-being information to their kids. Since fall is when students are back in school, the Coalition thought now would be a good time to screen the movie.

Even though the movie will play at CV High, Beattie said the film shouldn’t concern those only associated with high school education.

“It’s as valuable for parents of elementary school children as it is for parents of kids in high school,” she said. “Part of our mission is we need to be able to build a more safe and healthier community and this is just another aspect of how our children’s lives are being affected by stress and what it could lead to down the road.”

Beattie herself has three kids, all of whom went to college, including a daughter who is now a teacher. Beattie said she didn’t try to make her kids feel like if they didn’t get straight As, the world would end.

“I took a different attitude about my children’s education and their extracurricular activities. I felt they needed to have balance,” she said.

Tickets for the screening are $10 prior and $15 the day of. For more information, call (818) 248-4957.

  Brandon Hensley