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- [Narrator] For the past two
weeks in Ann Arbor, Michigan

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parents and many children
have been waiting in line

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and sometimes freezing weather.

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They're hoping to get into
the school of their choice.

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The district's only
alternative public high school.

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NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

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- [Don] More than a dozen
brightly colored tents

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dot the lawn behind the
Ann Arbor public school

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district administration building.

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In the parking lot, there
are three pop-up campers

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and assorted minivans.

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Ever since March 17,

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this has been home to a dedicated band

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of district residents,

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hoping to secure a spot for a child

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in the coming year as freshman class

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at Ann Arbor's Community High School.

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(upbeat music)

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- I loved school.

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I was always a good student,

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but when I learned about Community,

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it was like a whole
different ball game for me.

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And I really wanted to be
able to explore the world

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and that's what Community offered

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in a way that no other school offered.

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When I got to Harvard, I was
able to function pretty well.

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And maybe in part it was
Community that taught me

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that it's important to challenge
yourself in different ways.

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And it's not just about being different

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for being different sake.

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That's not our bus, is it?

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I don't know.

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Yeah, that's our bus. All right.

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I used to ride the bus back and forth

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to Community every day
for the first couple years

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that I was going to Community.

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It was a long bus ride.

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I'd get up in the morning in
the dark, leave the house.

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But I was so excited to go to
school, that I didn't care.

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It didn't matter what the weather was,

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it didn't matter how cold,
it didn't matter how dark,

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I was ready to go to school every day.

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I have a kiddo and she's in eighth grade.

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So this is the year when it gets decided

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where they wanna go to high school.

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For a while, she didn't
want to apply to Community.

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She was afraid that she
would get her heart set.

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And because Community is now
so popular and it's a lottery,

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only one in four kids get in.

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And she wasn't sure that she
can take the disappointment.

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But yeah, she's decided she's
gonna go in for the lottery.

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(car engine roaring)

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(indistinct chattering)

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- This is the best day of
(indistinct) school, 2016-17.

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(audience applauds)

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We are so lucky that we get
to have all of our assemblies

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in this beautiful, beautiful place.

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St. Andrew's is part of our community.

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And that's what Community
High School is about,

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it's about learning from your community,

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giving back to your community

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and learning how to be
a part of a community.

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I am inspired by students, by staff.

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I look at your passionate teachers

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who've been working so
hard all summer long.

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So for example, Judith
DeWoskin right here.

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(audience applauds)

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Judith is 73 years old
and still comes to school

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and learns something
every day from you guys.

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(audience applauds)

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(indistinct chattering)

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- I went to Community
High, graduated in '76.

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I didn't go there all four years,

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but that group was the
first graduating class

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that had been there.

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Many of my classmates
from ninth grade to 12th.

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This is the founding blueprint.

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This was the group of teachers
and administrators and so on

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who designed the school,

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including the idea of what Forums are,

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why it's called Community,

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that you earned credit for
doing stuff in the community.

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Basically, it ran the gamut
and I think they tried to find

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teachers who were willing
to think outside the box.

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Community started advertising for staff

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because they had the idea
and they had the building,

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but they didn't have the staff.

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Some people stuck with
very traditional values

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about the classroom and the structure.

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Then there was a more vociferous
group of which I was part

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that said, "let's play with
this, let's play with this."

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So it was a combination
of people who were failing

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at other schools and also geniuses.

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It kind of went to that
spectrum and I was failing,

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(laughs)

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but Community High saved my life

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and I do hold it totally responsible

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for having a bachelor's
degree, master's degree

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and everything.

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So it was 1972, I was actually
critiquing my teachers

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in eighth grade and I explained to them

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why they were teaching badly.

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And that didn't go over terribly well.

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Nixon was president.

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There was a war going on

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and people our age were being drafted

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or people a little older
than us we're being drafted.

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There was the Counter
Culture as we called it then,

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Anti-war Movement, the Civil Rights Act

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and the Voting Rights Act

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had passed just a few years before.

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I think a lot of people were challenged

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by what was going on in
the late '60s, early '70s,

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psychologically, emotionally,
culturally, traditionally,

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lots of stuff was being
thrown up in the air.

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(upbeat instrumental music)

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All of this sort of turmoil

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led to them trying to settle things down.

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And they tried to create programs for kids

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because you had Pioneer High School,

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this big high school there,

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they're building Huron. those two schools

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were the most expensive
schools in the country,

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when they were built.

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These parents, they
wanted something different

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for their kids, some kind of
alternative school program.

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So then Bruce McPherson was
brought in as the superintendent

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because he had started
something in Philadelphia

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called The School Without Walls.

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And that was a program
where kids could get credit

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for doing work outside the school.

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And that was like the seed

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that sprouted into Community High School.

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Well, I was interested in being

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in a new type of high school
and it was groundbreaking.

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So I was excited about that,

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but I got pulled into the creation of it.

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I can't quite remember how,
but the next thing you know,

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I was on the committee to
help interview teachers.

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And my father was pretty frustrated

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because they did not have the
backing of most everybody.

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I mean, if you go back and
check the Ann Arbor news out,

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you'll see some things going on.

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And my father used to come
home and say, "hmm!" You know,

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the time that we had our very
first meeting at the church

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across the street, well, I
think one of the articles

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or on the news or something
said about the pot smoking

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in the church, in the balcony.

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So my father definitely
had to mention that.

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I wanted to be exposed
to people who were aware

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and thinking. I wanted to have choice

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over what I was gonna learn.

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Community High was the
closest thing to that.

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So I came in with that
understanding as well

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that we were changing education
throughout the country.

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I am absolutely no good
at predicting the future.

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If you want to ask,

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how are we going now and
will we continue that way?

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I don't know.

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I'd like to see this rich
community of Ann Arbor

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have lots of alternatives.

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One of those alternatives ought
to be a peace & love school.

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And other one ought to
be a military academy.

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I'm all for filling up
the gymnasium of water

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and having a swim team, I don't care.

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Anything it can do to make a change.

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Anything that pulls the
pendulum off dead center.

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I don't care if it pulls
to the right on the left

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as long as it pulls off the center,

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it always comes back to the middle.

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(chuckles)

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(soft instrumental music)

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- Well, Forum is the most
important part of the school.

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If Forum is done right,

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that's where you do a lot of learning.

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And a lot of the learning
you do in high school

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is growing up.

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It's nice to have older kids
and younger kids together

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so the younger kids can
learn from the older kids

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and then have a significant adult

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that kids are able to talk to.

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(indistinct chatting)

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It's like a homeroom on steroids.

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I think people understand homeroom,

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but they don't understand that
a Forum leader goes camping,

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has sleepovers at her house,
feeds kids all the time,

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keeps food in a closet.

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I had mice in my closet this
year & had to say to the kids,

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we can't do this, the
pantry is getting invaded.

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It's an advocate, it's a social director.

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We call it a Forum mom and a Forum dad.

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(indistinct chattering)

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- Hey I will buy you
any junk food you want.

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So I don't have any (indistinct)

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Wait a minute. I don't
know what a taki is!

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Of course Forum was different
because that was not really

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like an academic class.

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I know we would plan our camping
trips and stuff like that.

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And you know when people would
have problems or something

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that they needed to deal with,

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that wasn't so much during
the Forum class time,

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that would be like a
one-on-one with the teacher

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talking about what was going on.

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(participants laughing)

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Kids, I think you've got it.

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You're not gonna starve.

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Now the money, I didn't
tell you (indistinct)

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It's the greatest concept,

00:11:05.070 --> 00:11:07.070
because it gives you your anchor.

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For me, I think it really
did substitute for a family

00:11:09.640 --> 00:11:12.500
where I wasn't getting
that same nourishment

00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:16.123
or care I guess.

00:11:17.160 --> 00:11:19.050
Somebody who's genuinely caring about

00:11:19.050 --> 00:11:20.536
my interests and welfare.

00:11:20.536 --> 00:11:23.869
(bright dramatic music)

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♪ Oi oi oi! ♪

00:11:31.702 --> 00:11:32.535
♪ Nick goes to Forum everyday ♪

00:11:32.535 --> 00:11:33.442
♪ He does a lot of work ♪

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♪ He should get an A ♪

00:11:34.331 --> 00:11:35.482
♪ Okay great, that's the wrong grade ♪

00:11:35.482 --> 00:11:37.111
♪ You're lowering his GPA ♪

00:11:37.111 --> 00:11:38.285
♪ Forum should be an easy A ♪

00:11:38.285 --> 00:11:39.805
♪ That grade should be attendance based ♪

00:11:39.805 --> 00:11:41.341
♪ Stop this madness right away ♪

00:11:41.341 --> 00:11:42.754
♪ You don't learn anything anyways ♪

00:11:42.754 --> 00:11:45.421
♪ Well I can make an A in Forum ♪

00:11:45.421 --> 00:11:47.310
I would go on these
camping trips, and my aunt

00:11:47.310 --> 00:11:48.367
would say to me,

00:11:48.367 --> 00:11:50.760
"Judith, are other teachers doing this?"

00:11:50.760 --> 00:11:53.290
And I'd say, "Yes, we all do
it. We're all going camping."

00:11:53.290 --> 00:11:56.760
Or we're all having activities
that involve spending days

00:11:56.760 --> 00:11:59.120
with and evenings with our students.

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That makes a huge difference.

00:12:00.631 --> 00:12:04.722
♪ Whoa, give Nick an A in Forum ♪

00:12:04.722 --> 00:12:08.055
(participants laughing)

00:12:15.491 --> 00:12:16.324
What's this for?

00:12:16.324 --> 00:12:18.190
Let's finish all of our chili,

00:12:18.190 --> 00:12:21.000
all the new cheese and
anything else I bring you

00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.090
to stuff down your happy little tummies.

00:12:23.090 --> 00:12:26.410
End of the first marking period is Friday.

00:12:26.410 --> 00:12:31.410
Everybody look me in the eyes,
look me in the eyes and say,

00:12:31.750 --> 00:12:33.867
"I won't be on the doo-doo list."

00:12:33.867 --> 00:12:36.520
[Students] I won't be on the doo-doo list.

00:12:36.520 --> 00:12:38.810
'Cause I have to go snooping to see

00:12:38.810 --> 00:12:40.520
whom I should be thinking about.

00:12:40.520 --> 00:12:43.736
This room, I think
sometimes it's like 110.

00:12:43.736 --> 00:12:45.330
Which is really hot.

00:12:45.330 --> 00:12:46.500
It's like at the end of the day,

00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.560
when you're absolutely dead,

00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:51.720
you have 26 wild little
kids come in the room

00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:53.380
and they're bouncing and they're starving

00:12:53.380 --> 00:12:54.930
and then you do this.

00:12:54.930 --> 00:12:56.140
I mean, it's kind of nice

00:12:56.140 --> 00:12:58.850
because in a way we all
kind of collapse together.

00:12:58.850 --> 00:12:59.683
- [Filmmaker] And you've
been at the school

00:12:59.683 --> 00:13:00.810
for a couple of years...?

00:13:00.810 --> 00:13:01.643
- 30.

00:13:01.643 --> 00:13:02.483
- [Filmmaker] Have you been
in this room for a long time?

00:13:02.483 --> 00:13:03.890
- Yes. All the time.

00:13:03.890 --> 00:13:06.363
This is my room, my room.

00:13:07.437 --> 00:13:08.270
(indistinct)

00:13:08.270 --> 00:13:09.103
- [Student 2] Thank you Judith.

00:13:09.103 --> 00:13:10.100
- [Student 3] Thanks Judith. Bye.

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.063
- You're welcome guys.

00:13:11.063 --> 00:13:12.487
- Bye Judith.

00:13:12.487 --> 00:13:14.954
(indistinct)

00:13:14.954 --> 00:13:16.352
- He didn't just eat two hot dogs.

00:13:16.352 --> 00:13:19.780
- I have no idea (indistinct).

00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:23.360
I remember it was my
first job out of college

00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.080
and I have had to teach
other places and come back.

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.970
But what I loved instantly

00:13:28.970 --> 00:13:30.973
was being called by my first name.

00:13:30.973 --> 00:13:33.400
So it felt like the right place for me.

00:13:33.400 --> 00:13:36.920
I have been a Forum leader all along.

00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:38.746
I feel like Hannah's grown up.

00:13:38.746 --> 00:13:39.579
- [Hannah] Yeah.

00:13:39.579 --> 00:13:40.412
- In my Forum.

00:13:40.412 --> 00:13:42.160
- Now I spend more time Thomas' Forum

00:13:42.160 --> 00:13:43.480
than I have in Strassel Forum.

00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:45.370
Where are the Craisins?

00:13:45.370 --> 00:13:48.140
- And I liked including
my family in my Forum,

00:13:48.140 --> 00:13:53.000
because I felt like the
students felt more...

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.990
They just felt like they
were included in my family.

00:13:54.990 --> 00:13:56.930
They were part of my
family. They mattered.

00:13:56.930 --> 00:13:58.840
Do you have memories of growing up?

00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.590
- I do. In your forum?

00:14:00.590 --> 00:14:02.730
Yeah, absolutely.

00:14:02.730 --> 00:14:06.890
I think that Community High
School's entire culture

00:14:06.890 --> 00:14:09.730
is built towards trying to
make as many people as possible

00:14:09.730 --> 00:14:12.310
find that thing that
they're passionate about.

00:14:12.310 --> 00:14:14.130
And I think that that's why

00:14:14.130 --> 00:14:15.434
the students at Community High School

00:14:15.434 --> 00:14:20.434
sometimes feel so much more
engaged, more empowered.

00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:23.030
And I think that a lot
of that is the teachers.

00:14:23.030 --> 00:14:24.410
And a lot of that is the programs

00:14:24.410 --> 00:14:25.830
that are in place like Forum.

00:14:25.830 --> 00:14:27.330
And then you look at something like Forum

00:14:27.330 --> 00:14:28.420
and it's random people

00:14:28.420 --> 00:14:30.110
who are accepted from the lottery

00:14:30.110 --> 00:14:32.770
and you make some of your
best friends in Forum

00:14:32.770 --> 00:14:34.400
and you might've never met them.

00:14:34.400 --> 00:14:37.220
It's what Community does
is it takes these people

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:42.180
and all of the potential
that everybody has

00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:44.450
and really allows them
to find it in themselves

00:14:44.450 --> 00:14:46.050
and find it in others.

00:14:46.050 --> 00:14:49.710
- Community High had adults who would say,

00:14:49.710 --> 00:14:52.130
Oh, I perceive your interests

00:14:52.130 --> 00:14:54.540
and let's give you this opportunity.

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:56.980
It's built into the
structure of Community High,

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:58.573
Community Resource, right?

00:15:01.530 --> 00:15:03.880
- David Tuck and I were quite close.

00:15:03.880 --> 00:15:06.147
And he's the one who came
to me as Dean and said,

00:15:06.147 --> 00:15:08.940
"We wanna have skateboarding
for PE credit. Is it okay?"

00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:10.410
I just said come back

00:15:10.410 --> 00:15:12.690
and explain to me how it qualifies

00:15:12.690 --> 00:15:14.150
'cause I don't know anything
about skateboarding.

00:15:14.150 --> 00:15:16.107
And so they took me out in the parking lot

00:15:16.107 --> 00:15:17.440
and they were whizzing around

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:20.622
and jumping on the
little cement abutments.

00:15:20.622 --> 00:15:23.743
And I was like, "I'm down", let's do it.

00:15:25.280 --> 00:15:27.980
- I wasn't a big fan of gym class.

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:30.150
So me and my friend Marnin

00:15:30.150 --> 00:15:31.960
created a Community Resource class

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:36.960
called "Swim Swam Swum", where

00:15:37.401 --> 00:15:42.401
we snuck into swimming pools
of hotels around Ann Arbor

00:15:42.710 --> 00:15:46.260
and recorded our swimming
and our heart rate,

00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:49.240
but also wrote about the experience

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:52.490
of trying to sneak into these
pools and not get caught.

00:15:52.490 --> 00:15:55.240
- We had a student nursery in the school

00:15:56.160 --> 00:16:00.640
where kids would bring their
babies and leave them there.

00:16:00.640 --> 00:16:02.620
Other kids could get
Community resource credit

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.540
for learning how to take care of babies,

00:16:04.540 --> 00:16:05.750
which is really cool.

00:16:05.750 --> 00:16:08.130
They had to do a certain
amount of educational value

00:16:08.130 --> 00:16:10.770
and the kids had to learn some...

00:16:10.770 --> 00:16:13.700
If the CR is being monitored correctly,

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.340
they have to learn something.

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:18.480
- But over time it became
a little more structured.

00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:20.440
And so there were classes
like you would see

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:22.273
in any high school,

00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:25.730
but you also had a real option

00:16:25.730 --> 00:16:27.660
if you wanted to do something different.

00:16:27.660 --> 00:16:30.160
- I was in charge of
Community Resource department

00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:33.510
and teaching speech and a Forum leader.

00:16:33.510 --> 00:16:36.383
And we had hundreds of CRs.

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:39.950
I would have a case
load sometimes 250 CRs.

00:16:39.950 --> 00:16:43.047
A lot of kids spent more time
out of school than in school.

00:16:43.047 --> 00:16:46.120
And it was based on the
Parkway, Philadelphia idea

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:49.303
that education isn't
contained in brick and mortar.

00:16:50.526 --> 00:16:52.973
- Right. Can we go ahead?

00:16:52.973 --> 00:16:54.410
- [Student] Cue down.

00:16:54.410 --> 00:16:56.950
- Good afternoon and welcome
to Students in the Spotlight.

00:16:56.950 --> 00:16:58.470
I'm Vicky Henry, and today with me,

00:16:58.470 --> 00:17:00.140
I have Tracy Osbourn,

00:17:00.140 --> 00:17:02.340
who is a student at Community High School.

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.233
Hi Tracy.

00:17:03.233 --> 00:17:04.066
- Hi.

00:17:04.066 --> 00:17:04.899
- I understand Community High

00:17:04.899 --> 00:17:06.160
is and alternative high school.

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.890
What's that mean?

00:17:07.890 --> 00:17:10.410
- It's a lot more freedom
than most schools.

00:17:10.410 --> 00:17:13.830
Like I don't know most Ann Arbor schools.

00:17:13.830 --> 00:17:15.680
- What do you like best about this school?

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:18.700
- I like the freedom and the
teachers. They're really nice.

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:21.340
And the students are nice too.

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:22.710
- Well, we're out of time for the day.

00:17:22.710 --> 00:17:23.748
I hope you'll tune in tomorrow

00:17:23.748 --> 00:17:26.870
when I'll be talking to
another Community High student.

00:17:26.870 --> 00:17:28.120
Thanks Tracy.

00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:30.610
- All right Leah, do you have your phone?

00:17:30.610 --> 00:17:31.850
You have everything else you need?

00:17:31.850 --> 00:17:33.123
- [Leah] Yeah.
- Okay.

00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:38.450
So we did check out the
application actually

00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.130
a few minutes ago and
there's nothing to it.

00:17:41.130 --> 00:17:44.580
It's just like your kid's name, your name,

00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:46.260
I think where they're in
school right now and that's it.

00:17:46.260 --> 00:17:48.990
So we're going to Community High School

00:17:48.990 --> 00:17:52.680
for the information session
for incoming ninth graders,

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:56.620
because my daughter, Leah
is gonna enter the lottery

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.773
to see if she gets in.

00:17:58.780 --> 00:18:01.790
These didn't exist back when I went.

00:18:01.790 --> 00:18:04.210
So this'll be different. Leah,
do you know what to expect?

00:18:04.210 --> 00:18:05.360
Has anybody told you?

00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:07.010
- No, everybody just
said it's really packed.

00:18:07.010 --> 00:18:08.060
- It's just really packed.

00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:09.850
So it's so popular now

00:18:09.850 --> 00:18:12.000
that they have to have
five of these things

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:16.633
'cause there's just so
many families to include.

00:18:18.062 --> 00:18:21.491
Yeah, these are definitely not our era.

00:18:21.491 --> 00:18:22.702
- This one is...

00:18:22.702 --> 00:18:24.780
There's Tidra, that's my sister.

00:18:24.780 --> 00:18:27.730
- So my husband is Trevor Staples

00:18:27.730 --> 00:18:31.010
and he hung out on the front porch,

00:18:31.010 --> 00:18:32.540
if he ever came to school.

00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:35.280
Many years later after I
had already been married

00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:36.730
and divorced and had a child,

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:42.900
he and I met again actually
at a Community High reunion

00:18:43.670 --> 00:18:46.750
and became friends

00:18:46.750 --> 00:18:49.320
and then several years after that,

00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:52.540
we started dating and
eventually got married

00:18:54.370 --> 00:18:57.446
at Community High School
on the front porch.

00:18:57.446 --> 00:18:59.997
(laughs)

00:18:59.997 --> 00:19:02.940
- Hi, I'm Trevor Staples an
authority on punk rock jeans

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:05.150
and I'm here to tell you about them.

00:19:05.150 --> 00:19:06.580
I like punk rock jeans

00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:08.780
because I feel good
when I'm with the crowd.

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.670
They are great when I'm slam dancing

00:19:12.670 --> 00:19:15.990
and they don't stretch when
I kick preppies in the head.

00:19:15.990 --> 00:19:17.580
- Buy punk rock jeans,

00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:20.653
they're the original punk rock jeans.

00:19:21.790 --> 00:19:23.300
- We definitely had different experiences

00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:24.560
at Community High.

00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:26.470
I have friends that are lifelong friends

00:19:26.470 --> 00:19:28.420
from my time at Community,

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.940
but the other day Kelly asked
me who my Forum leader was.

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.843
And I don't know.

00:19:32.780 --> 00:19:35.496
I don't remember who my Forum leader was.

00:19:35.496 --> 00:19:36.870
(chuckles)

00:19:36.870 --> 00:19:38.440
I mean, that's how detached I was

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:40.240
from the academic part of Community.

00:19:42.270 --> 00:19:44.360
And that's part of why
it's surprising for people

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:46.820
that we're together and
that we're still together.

00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:50.490
The other high schools
were very strict and rigid

00:19:50.490 --> 00:19:53.630
and Community High was a
place that was more loose.

00:19:53.630 --> 00:19:56.676
And maybe something in between there

00:19:56.676 --> 00:19:58.420
would have been better for me.

00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:01.090
I wasn't prepared to do school,

00:20:01.090 --> 00:20:04.417
how Community does school
or did school that way.

00:20:06.895 --> 00:20:07.728
- [Woman] How are you?

00:20:07.728 --> 00:20:08.693
- She's totally calm.

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:13.850
She's not sweating this.
I'm like the wreck.

00:20:13.850 --> 00:20:16.360
Already it seems so
much more professional.

00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:18.137
We were so...

00:20:18.137 --> 00:20:20.040
I'm not gonna say disorganized,

00:20:20.040 --> 00:20:23.010
but it didn't feel formal in any way.

00:20:25.417 --> 00:20:28.600
And so already though, I can feel like

00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:32.710
it's a little more serious than it was.

00:20:32.710 --> 00:20:34.960
- We all know that Community High School

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.970
is a lottery school.

00:20:35.970 --> 00:20:39.135
Which means every year....

00:20:39.135 --> 00:20:42.380
(indistinct chattering)

00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:47.250
- When I was in eighth grade
and starting to figure out

00:20:47.250 --> 00:20:51.740
if I could go to Community or
not, my dad got really sick.

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:56.740
He knew about this plan
and was supportive of it.

00:20:56.770 --> 00:21:01.193
And then in March of my eighth
grade year, he passed away.

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:07.120
My mom was completely in favor of it.

00:21:07.690 --> 00:21:11.490
So it was an open secret
that I lived in Ypsilanti

00:21:11.490 --> 00:21:13.400
and was going to school in Ann Arbor.

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:16.890
And so people for the most
part just looked the other way.

00:21:16.890 --> 00:21:21.890
It wasn't until my junior
year that it became a problem.

00:21:23.310 --> 00:21:28.310
What I ended up doing was I
got emancipated by the court

00:21:28.310 --> 00:21:31.080
and I joined a co-op.

00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:32.620
Then I moved into a co-op

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:35.300
on University of Michigan's campus.

00:21:35.300 --> 00:21:38.280
At the time I acted like it didn't matter.

00:21:38.280 --> 00:21:41.953
And maybe it didn't,
maybe it only matters now.

00:21:44.537 --> 00:21:46.603
This is where I used to hang out.

00:21:46.603 --> 00:21:48.290
- Why?
- Why? 'Cause it was bench.

00:21:48.290 --> 00:21:49.868
You could sit.

00:21:49.868 --> 00:21:50.720
(indistinct)

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.960
It was the third floor

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:56.350
where the sort of geeky
political types hung out.

00:21:57.410 --> 00:22:02.410
Do you wanna see the fitness
stuff on the first one?

00:22:02.550 --> 00:22:04.460
Like the dance room and the workout room.

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.600
- Do you wanna go see it, mom?

00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:07.560
- We can see the dance room at least.

00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:09.743
I never went into the fitness room.

00:22:12.348 --> 00:22:13.510
- Have you been looking for good video

00:22:13.510 --> 00:22:14.510
equipment at a low price?

00:22:14.510 --> 00:22:16.380
Well, here it is, Commie Video Equipment.

00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.900
Commie is highly affordable.

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:21.070
The VCR comes complete with
wired remote and is part of it.

00:22:21.070 --> 00:22:23.963
So you can record anything you
want with your video camera.

00:22:25.890 --> 00:22:28.221
See, I just took a
picture of the cameraman.

00:22:28.221 --> 00:22:30.466
(laughing)

00:22:30.466 --> 00:22:31.299
- [student] You're picking like-

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:34.020
- I should not be trusted with blades.

00:22:34.020 --> 00:22:35.339
That's the true fact about me.

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:37.323
- [student] I'm a little
scared with you handling this.

00:22:41.225 --> 00:22:43.390
- We've got a lot of news
because as you can see,

00:22:43.390 --> 00:22:45.250
it's the election.

00:22:45.250 --> 00:22:50.250
So we covered Tim Kaine,
Hillary and Bernie.

00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:53.710
We're covering incarceration again,

00:22:53.710 --> 00:22:55.170
which we've done in previous issues

00:22:55.170 --> 00:22:58.360
but I think it's like a different
take on it, which is cool.

00:22:58.360 --> 00:23:00.342
Actually, should we open more boxes?

00:23:00.342 --> 00:23:02.759
(indistinct)

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.778
- This is what it looked like...

00:23:12.778 --> 00:23:17.273
Well, this was actually like
the year before I started 1999.

00:23:18.650 --> 00:23:20.280
And this is what it looks like today.

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:23.090
This is the best edition they've
ever, ever, ever put out.

00:23:23.090 --> 00:23:23.923
Like the best.

00:23:23.923 --> 00:23:25.750
- [Hannah] Communicator. You got one.

00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:31.090
- First semester there was
a paper called The Syllabus

00:23:31.090 --> 00:23:33.620
and we also had a paper called Mondays.

00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:36.650
And so each Monday there
was like a one sheet thing

00:23:36.650 --> 00:23:38.870
that said, this is what's happening.

00:23:38.870 --> 00:23:42.710
When we started Yenta,
Watergate had just gone down

00:23:42.710 --> 00:23:45.500
and it seemed like one of the
most sexy, amazing careers

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:48.050
you could have would be as
an investigative journalist

00:23:48.050 --> 00:23:49.840
because you could indeed save the world

00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:52.090
and it would be amazing.

00:23:52.090 --> 00:23:54.400
- And then Tom Dodd took
over the Communicator

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:57.870
and his thing was, he just
wanted any kid to write.

00:23:57.870 --> 00:23:59.990
Every kid had to write something

00:23:59.990 --> 00:24:02.520
and Tracy her thing was more quality

00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:06.146
raise the quality up a little bit.

00:24:06.146 --> 00:24:08.180
(indistinct)

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:11.610
- It's nice to give them something

00:24:11.610 --> 00:24:14.260
that everybody gets it in the school.

00:24:14.260 --> 00:24:16.620
So rarely that people
get the same information,

00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:18.750
at the same moment in time

00:24:18.750 --> 00:24:20.710
and Communicator when we distribute,

00:24:20.710 --> 00:24:22.800
it's one of those moments where everyone.

00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:24.050
I like walking around the hallway

00:24:24.050 --> 00:24:26.437
and seeing what they're looking at.

00:24:26.437 --> 00:24:28.890
(laughs)

00:24:28.890 --> 00:24:29.753
Thank you Judith.

00:24:32.031 --> 00:24:32.864
- Bye.

00:24:33.780 --> 00:24:36.760
- Learning how to put together a newspaper

00:24:36.760 --> 00:24:41.760
and writing for it was an
instance where the work was real.

00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:46.320
And when you think about
creating an intellectual culture,

00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:48.760
that students actually value,

00:24:48.760 --> 00:24:50.270
those are examples of things

00:24:50.270 --> 00:24:54.380
that are true performances of real work

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:59.380
and are being used by other
students and faculty and so on.

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:01.970
And so when you can create real work

00:25:01.970 --> 00:25:03.750
that students can engage with,

00:25:03.750 --> 00:25:06.980
it totally changes how you invest in it

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.565
and how seriously you take it.

00:25:08.565 --> 00:25:11.148
(lively music)

00:25:19.495 --> 00:25:20.328
- [Clarence] We're still...

00:25:20.328 --> 00:25:21.161
So we're coming back at like what,

00:25:21.161 --> 00:25:22.650
10 something?

00:25:22.650 --> 00:25:24.060
- [Teacher] We're probably not
gonna leave there til 10ish.

00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:25.344
- [Clarence] Okay, so
like get back at like...

00:25:25.344 --> 00:25:26.177
- [Teacher] 10:30 to 11.

00:25:27.150 --> 00:25:28.873
- [Danny] Oh my God, did
you guys not get coat...

00:25:28.873 --> 00:25:30.170
- [Clarence] Coat tie and crocks.

00:25:30.170 --> 00:25:31.209
- Yeah. Suit and tie...

00:25:31.209 --> 00:25:33.626
- [Clarence] C & T & C...

00:25:36.095 --> 00:25:38.802
- I feel good.

00:25:38.802 --> 00:25:41.827
Like I knew that...I would.

00:25:41.827 --> 00:25:43.659
I feel good. I feel excited.

00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.640
- I feel excited.

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.865
- That's the way I think about it.

00:25:45.865 --> 00:25:50.550
There's a 0.05% chance that
Stevie Wonder will walk by.

00:25:50.550 --> 00:25:51.940
And for me that's about
good enough to just be-

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:54.360
- That's good enough just to be excited-

00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.193
- A little bit to do something yeah.

00:25:55.193 --> 00:25:56.850
- 'Cause like usually it's a 0%.

00:25:56.850 --> 00:25:57.683
- [Danny] Right.

00:25:57.683 --> 00:25:58.516
(indistinct)

00:25:58.516 --> 00:25:59.710
- The whole thing?

00:25:59.710 --> 00:26:00.543
- Yeah.

00:26:00.543 --> 00:26:01.910
- Yeah that makes sense
because we have to roll.

00:26:01.910 --> 00:26:02.743
- Oh yeah.

00:26:02.743 --> 00:26:03.990
- You're gonna be so glad
that you have to repack.

00:26:03.990 --> 00:26:04.823
- Yeah.

00:26:04.823 --> 00:26:06.160
- Lift it as a unit.

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.760
Then we'll do the next one next to it.

00:26:07.760 --> 00:26:09.120
- I shouldn't look at it from that.

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.953
- No, but yeah.

00:26:09.953 --> 00:26:11.140
- If I had my instrument
taken away from me,

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:12.650
I'd probably go back to football.

00:26:12.650 --> 00:26:13.483
'Cause I was like-

00:26:13.483 --> 00:26:15.000
- What position did you like in football?

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:17.330
- I was starting line on both sides.

00:26:17.330 --> 00:26:19.048
So I was on defense
and offense. It was so-

00:26:19.048 --> 00:26:19.881
- [Marci] When was the last year

00:26:19.881 --> 00:26:20.714
you played football, Clarence?

00:26:20.714 --> 00:26:21.547
- Eighth grade.

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:24.563
- What made you decide to
never do it in high school?

00:26:24.563 --> 00:26:26.330
- [Clarence] Music.
- [Danny] Music. Yeah.

00:26:26.330 --> 00:26:27.360
- You can't do both hey?

00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:29.140
- No. Especially theater as well.

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.680
- [Danny] Hypothetically you could.

00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.870
- Hypothetically, yes.

00:26:31.870 --> 00:26:32.703
- But it's hard. It's hard.

00:26:32.703 --> 00:26:33.980
- It's very difficult.

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.740
And though, that's the question I've been,

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:38.250
and I keep asking myself is
what I'm doing right now,

00:26:38.250 --> 00:26:39.320
what I wanna do.

00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:40.370
And so then I'm just like, okay,

00:26:40.370 --> 00:26:42.470
then I dropped the thing
that like, I don't wanna do.

00:26:42.470 --> 00:26:44.260
So like, and that's why
like it's such a struggle

00:26:44.260 --> 00:26:45.093
with theater right now,

00:26:45.093 --> 00:26:45.926
'cause I've been like really like,

00:26:45.926 --> 00:26:47.920
oh, do I keep one 'cause
I do really love it.

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.020
And I love it so much.

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.760
So we're at the

00:26:52.760 --> 00:26:56.240
North American International
Auto Show Charity Gala.

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:58.580
There's gonna be over
13,000 people there tonight,

00:26:58.580 --> 00:27:02.910
a lot of VIP's and
politicians and famous folks.

00:27:02.910 --> 00:27:04.890
This is just one of nearly a hundred gigs

00:27:04.890 --> 00:27:06.010
we'll do this year

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:09.010
and this is one of the
bigger ones for sure.

00:27:09.010 --> 00:27:11.120
And it all comes out of
what was going on in the 70s

00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:12.520
with Bart Polot and then later on

00:27:12.520 --> 00:27:14.620
Mike Grace in '80s and 90s.

00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:17.670
The whole idea was to make
a small group jazz program.

00:27:17.670 --> 00:27:18.550
That's all we do here.

00:27:18.550 --> 00:27:20.810
That's what separates us from
every other school is that

00:27:20.810 --> 00:27:23.510
that's what we study
and that's all we study

00:27:23.510 --> 00:27:25.520
and it's really improv-based.

00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:28.410
We want the kids to be
able to be individuals

00:27:28.410 --> 00:27:29.683
and express themselves,

00:27:30.520 --> 00:27:32.290
but we're doing it in a team.

00:27:32.290 --> 00:27:34.460
It's not about focusing
on just compositions

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:36.370
written by folks in bygone era.

00:27:36.370 --> 00:27:38.120
It's about being creative yourself.

00:27:39.032 --> 00:27:39.865
And I think that is special

00:27:39.865 --> 00:27:41.340
and that's why we're
having so much success.

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.740
And the kids are winning Downbeat awards

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.990
and going off and making records

00:27:43.990 --> 00:27:46.540
and going and doing great
things at the next level.

00:27:47.491 --> 00:27:50.324
(trumpet blowing)

00:27:51.310 --> 00:27:52.339
- It's not a normal trumpet.

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:55.590
I really liked it 'cause
I liked the sound of it.

00:27:55.590 --> 00:27:57.300
It's very unique and I thought
it would like help me with,

00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:59.930
like just hone in like my individuality

00:27:59.930 --> 00:28:02.023
and then just jazz playing.

00:28:03.410 --> 00:28:06.493
(instrumental music)

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:18.440
- I think we've been playing
very well more so than-

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.510
- I think this is one of the best times

00:28:19.510 --> 00:28:20.960
I've played personally.

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.793
It's really great.
- I agree.

00:28:21.793 --> 00:28:22.956
- I think it might just be like,

00:28:22.956 --> 00:28:24.549
I don't know what it is honestly.

00:28:24.549 --> 00:28:27.632
(instrumental music)

00:28:29.293 --> 00:28:31.130
- For all your performance needs.

00:28:31.130 --> 00:28:33.410
- Thank you. Community High Jazz...

00:28:33.410 --> 00:28:35.710
You guys are high schoolers?

00:28:35.710 --> 00:28:37.993
I walked past and it was just amazing

00:28:39.801 --> 00:28:42.380
and I was like "they got
the Beach Boys downstairs?"

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:45.405
Please, they need to be downstairs!

00:28:45.405 --> 00:28:47.822
(indistinct)

00:28:52.450 --> 00:28:54.980
- I'd like to hear a quick share up

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.530
from each group here

00:28:56.530 --> 00:29:01.190
about dates and also about
your best de-stressing

00:29:01.190 --> 00:29:02.540
or studying strategies.

00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:05.200
There's real humanist quality to the way

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:07.520
that people relate to
each other at Community.

00:29:07.520 --> 00:29:09.130
The culture here is so different

00:29:09.130 --> 00:29:12.530
and it's something that is
so hard to build a culture,

00:29:12.530 --> 00:29:14.530
even if everybody's really intentional

00:29:14.530 --> 00:29:16.600
about wanting something
to be a certain way,

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:19.780
it's unlike anything I've
experienced other places.

00:29:19.780 --> 00:29:21.110
I actually went to Community.

00:29:21.110 --> 00:29:25.410
So I started here in
1999, graduated in 2002

00:29:25.410 --> 00:29:29.200
and then I student taught
here in 2008, 2009.

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:31.230
And then I got lucky
enough to get a job here

00:29:31.230 --> 00:29:33.240
the second year after that.

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:36.630
And I was so glad to be here. Again.

00:29:36.630 --> 00:29:39.070
Coming to Community and
having the QSA group

00:29:39.070 --> 00:29:40.730
was really important for
me to be able to come out.

00:29:40.730 --> 00:29:43.730
Just 'cause I was meeting
all these other queer kids

00:29:43.730 --> 00:29:46.230
who were also coming out
and also experiencing

00:29:46.230 --> 00:29:47.180
some of the same things

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:49.230
that I wasn't having a sense of humor

00:29:49.230 --> 00:29:51.530
about all of the weirdness
that accompanies coming out

00:29:51.530 --> 00:29:53.800
as a high school student.

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:56.260
So yeah, that was really important.

00:29:56.260 --> 00:29:58.040
- People were out and so it's like,

00:29:58.040 --> 00:30:00.680
oh, you're gay well okay then.

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.860
It's a smaller school

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:06.860
and so you knew who was
gay and it was no big deal.

00:30:06.870 --> 00:30:11.050
- So this is the yearbook from
the third year of the school.

00:30:11.050 --> 00:30:14.720
And I just was looking earlier
one of the funny things

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.410
they'd have this timeline,

00:30:16.410 --> 00:30:19.230
homecoming queen crown, that
was our homecoming queen.

00:30:19.230 --> 00:30:20.800
He was gay.

00:30:20.800 --> 00:30:23.860
It was healthy for the gay bisexual folks.

00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:26.510
Transgendered wasn't really
on our radar at that time,

00:30:26.510 --> 00:30:28.870
but I'm sure there was
"T" people there too,

00:30:28.870 --> 00:30:30.843
that they weren't gonna get ostracized.

00:30:30.843 --> 00:30:34.339
- Get in your groups, I'll
give you a prompt in a second

00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:36.650
The quirkiness and the willingness

00:30:36.650 --> 00:30:39.130
to do things differently
is still alive and well.

00:30:39.130 --> 00:30:44.130
And kids who are not totally
mainstream and normal

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:47.150
are still thriving here
and are still accepted here

00:30:47.150 --> 00:30:50.230
and there's still the culture of welcoming

00:30:50.230 --> 00:30:54.890
instead of alienation that
I think is really important.

00:30:54.890 --> 00:30:55.723
I would...

00:30:55.723 --> 00:30:56.740
I'm gonna ask you guys and
I know I don't remember

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.870
if you guys will get in your groups,

00:30:57.870 --> 00:31:00.236
I'll give you a second here.

00:31:00.236 --> 00:31:01.463
(indistinct)

00:31:01.463 --> 00:31:02.720
- There are very few kids at Community

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.823
that get lost or that's how it should be.

00:31:05.774 --> 00:31:07.023
That you're known there.

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:10.660
And really that's what you
wanna achieve in high school

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:13.237
because isolation, disenfranchisement

00:31:13.237 --> 00:31:16.450
are so easy with adolescents

00:31:16.450 --> 00:31:19.180
and you're not gonna deny adolescence.

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:24.400
A school that sort of accepted
that and rolled with it

00:31:25.730 --> 00:31:27.500
was gonna be better for kids.

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.080
- At a more personal level

00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:31.840
and I mean this very lovingly,

00:31:31.840 --> 00:31:35.050
we had so many unique spirits,

00:31:35.050 --> 00:31:40.050
who likely had been quite
misunderstood as kids.

00:31:40.670 --> 00:31:43.870
I call them gadzooks in
my head, like gyro-gooses,

00:31:43.870 --> 00:31:47.410
like just these really
incredible individuals

00:31:47.410 --> 00:31:51.844
who in a very traditional
system have no chance to shine.

00:31:51.844 --> 00:31:55.177
(bright dramatic music)

00:31:56.520 --> 00:31:58.720
- There was always that
really marvelous mural

00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.270
of the AntiZebra mascot.

00:32:00.270 --> 00:32:03.160
That was right next to the
office where there's the zebra

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:05.634
of many different patterns
running against the tide

00:32:05.634 --> 00:32:08.880
of zebras who look sort of astounded.

00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:11.670
The expressions on those zebras
faces in the original mural

00:32:11.670 --> 00:32:12.940
are really good.

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:17.060
The zebra has a lot more
going on than rainbow, right?

00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:20.050
There's patterns, there's
many different patterns.

00:32:20.050 --> 00:32:22.650
Anything can happen on an AntiZebra.

00:32:22.650 --> 00:32:24.420
It's mercurial shifting.

00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.490
Absolutely. Yes.

00:32:25.490 --> 00:32:28.760
A colorful, well-intentioned, right?

00:32:28.760 --> 00:32:32.570
Probably harmless if
somewhat startling at first.

00:32:32.570 --> 00:32:33.719
Yeah, sure.

00:32:33.719 --> 00:32:35.320
(laughs)

00:32:35.320 --> 00:32:38.653
(bright dramatic music)

00:32:57.892 --> 00:33:01.240
- Oh, this is the where the
rest of the pictures are.

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:06.240
The feathered hair in the '80s blow backs.

00:33:06.710 --> 00:33:09.630
So I'm here in the main office
waiting for my parking pass

00:33:09.630 --> 00:33:11.990
and then we're gonna go
upstairs to Judith's classroom

00:33:11.990 --> 00:33:14.730
and I'll do a little chat with her Forum.

00:33:14.730 --> 00:33:16.390
Tell them about what
it was like in the '80s

00:33:16.390 --> 00:33:17.330
and what Judith was like

00:33:17.330 --> 00:33:19.090
when she first started here at Community.

00:33:19.090 --> 00:33:21.190
I think she's still in the same classroom.

00:33:22.560 --> 00:33:24.450
- Will you all welcome Kelly...

00:33:24.450 --> 00:33:26.227
You get the seat of honor.

00:33:26.227 --> 00:33:27.940
- All right.

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:30.570
So I first came to Community
in the ninth grade.

00:33:30.570 --> 00:33:34.040
That was 1983 and I graduated in 1987.

00:33:34.040 --> 00:33:36.960
So I graduated 30 years ago.

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:39.660
- Who else has a question of Kelly? Yes.

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:42.040
- How, like just being
here a short time now,

00:33:42.040 --> 00:33:44.380
like how do you think it's changed?

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:47.670
- Well, Judith is in the
same room which is great.

00:33:47.670 --> 00:33:49.550
And you guys look a little cleaner,

00:33:49.550 --> 00:33:50.830
a little more put together.

00:33:50.830 --> 00:33:52.060
We were pretty rough.

00:33:52.060 --> 00:33:54.420
You look exactly the
same. Your hair was brown.

00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.660
- Yeah, it was, it was really brown.

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.653
Kids it was brown.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:34:00.693
- What was Community like
when you were going here?

00:34:03.290 --> 00:34:05.560
- It was filled with people

00:34:05.560 --> 00:34:08.330
who didn't quite fit in other places,

00:34:08.330 --> 00:34:10.890
but people don't fit in
for all kinds of reasons.

00:34:10.890 --> 00:34:13.010
There's all kinds of things
that could be making you

00:34:13.010 --> 00:34:15.260
feel kind of out of sorts, right?

00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.320
- [Interviewer] What do
you want for Christmas.

00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:18.280
- I want some cotton underwear.

00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:19.430
- [Interviewer] Anything else?

00:34:19.430 --> 00:34:20.263
- Cotton underwear.

00:34:20.263 --> 00:34:21.713
Get a close up on the cotton underwear.

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.816
Long johns. Get a close
up on the long johns!

00:34:23.816 --> 00:34:25.381
- Like these!

00:34:25.381 --> 00:34:27.548
(buzzing)

00:34:29.550 --> 00:34:31.603
- Why did you decide to come
to Community High School?

00:34:31.603 --> 00:34:34.353
(dramatic music)

00:34:36.830 --> 00:34:38.180
- [Kelly] So in the mid '80s,

00:34:38.180 --> 00:34:40.650
we were pretty anti
everything establishment.

00:34:40.650 --> 00:34:43.880
And so we didn't do any prom.

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:46.250
We didn't have dances per se.

00:34:46.250 --> 00:34:49.677
We had a lot of hardcore punk rock shows.

00:34:49.677 --> 00:34:52.677
(students shouting)

00:34:58.760 --> 00:35:01.040
Back in the day there was like smoking

00:35:01.040 --> 00:35:04.570
in the teacher's lounge and
students smoked outside.

00:35:04.570 --> 00:35:07.350
People were definitely doing drugs.

00:35:07.350 --> 00:35:11.860
People were unshaven, they
didn't wash their hair,

00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:15.770
but Community was a place
where you could fit in,

00:35:15.770 --> 00:35:18.073
even if you had never fit in before.

00:35:18.073 --> 00:35:20.823
(dramatic music)

00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:28.194
(indistinct)

00:35:28.194 --> 00:35:31.710
We had this sense that if
we didn't keep it together,

00:35:31.710 --> 00:35:34.160
that any minute now they
could close the school.

00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:35.150
This could be the last year.

00:35:35.150 --> 00:35:40.150
So we worked really hard to
reach out to the community

00:35:40.290 --> 00:35:42.193
and try to get folks to come here.

00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:46.450
- We were fighting harder at 10 years

00:35:46.450 --> 00:35:49.160
than we did the first seven or eight.

00:35:49.160 --> 00:35:53.140
The administrative role
became very, very crucial.

00:35:53.140 --> 00:35:58.140
Right then for posterity,
not just balance your budget,

00:35:59.170 --> 00:36:00.710
take care of discipline,

00:36:00.710 --> 00:36:05.427
but we were really fighting for longevity.

00:36:08.470 --> 00:36:12.040
And that might be the
hardest fight of all.

00:36:12.040 --> 00:36:15.070
I felt like it was a
significant part of my job

00:36:15.070 --> 00:36:18.660
to work with downtown.

00:36:18.660 --> 00:36:20.750
Enrollment was the indicator.

00:36:20.750 --> 00:36:21.583
And we kept thinking,

00:36:21.583 --> 00:36:23.840
"oh my Lord, we know, we know, we know

00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:27.280
that there are hundreds
of kids who need us,

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.470
where are they?"

00:36:29.495 --> 00:36:34.416
♪ Can you see me in the dark ♪

00:36:34.416 --> 00:36:39.262
♪ Can you hear me not making a sound ♪

00:36:39.262 --> 00:36:44.262
♪ Can you tell me right from wrong ♪

00:36:44.729 --> 00:36:47.770
♪ Can you tell me about tomorrow ♪

00:36:47.770 --> 00:36:51.070
- Superintendent MacPherson
left after the first year,

00:36:51.070 --> 00:36:54.170
I think Community opened. His whole thing.

00:36:54.170 --> 00:36:57.400
So a very kind of
conservative board came in

00:36:57.400 --> 00:37:01.090
and they had no interest in Community.

00:37:01.090 --> 00:37:05.440
When I got there, like in 75, 76, 77,

00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:08.770
there'd be like 80 seniors graduating.

00:37:08.770 --> 00:37:10.940
And we would get the
message from downtown.

00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:13.240
Well, you're gonna have 80 students less

00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:15.760
figure out the three or four teachers

00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:17.640
you're gonna have to get rid of.

00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:19.810
- The school, I think at its smallest

00:37:19.810 --> 00:37:22.780
got down to maybe about 150 kids.

00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:26.500
We had almost annual
threats to our closure.

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:29.150
Rumors that they wanted to
make Community High into condos

00:37:29.150 --> 00:37:33.990
or certain superintendents
thinking we were too expensive.

00:37:33.990 --> 00:37:36.230
And yet the spirit of the school,

00:37:36.230 --> 00:37:38.763
the founding spirit was
still very much alive.

00:37:39.690 --> 00:37:44.090
So there was a very tight
feeling among everybody

00:37:44.090 --> 00:37:46.680
'cause we were defending ourselves.

00:37:46.680 --> 00:37:49.080
- I think the only thing
I worried about was that

00:37:49.080 --> 00:37:52.270
they would close us for some
reason and they never did.

00:37:52.270 --> 00:37:53.740
I still worry about it from time to time.

00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:56.523
Every now and then Community
becomes the target.

00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:59.650
Somebody attacks us for
one thing or another.

00:37:59.650 --> 00:38:03.350
It's been impossible to
undo the stereotypes.

00:38:03.350 --> 00:38:05.150
- We've got these amazing kids.

00:38:05.150 --> 00:38:06.464
Look at our test scores,

00:38:06.464 --> 00:38:08.630
look at our college track record.

00:38:08.630 --> 00:38:11.040
Hey, we're saving kids
from the other buildings

00:38:11.040 --> 00:38:13.260
who they don't want.

00:38:13.260 --> 00:38:17.070
It was almost kind of a
maturation happening, right then.

00:38:17.070 --> 00:38:20.340
Maybe our adolescence in some way?

00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:23.520
We're beating the streets to find 22 kids

00:38:23.520 --> 00:38:24.793
or you're gonna close us?

00:38:25.858 --> 00:38:28.608
(dramatic music)

00:38:36.281 --> 00:38:38.194
- No, there's no waiting list.

00:38:38.194 --> 00:38:40.702
And we probably need 10 or 12 people.

00:38:40.702 --> 00:38:41.535
- [Woman] Oh, really?

00:38:41.535 --> 00:38:43.121
- Yeah, but that's it.

00:38:43.121 --> 00:38:44.704
No we are not over.

00:38:46.497 --> 00:38:48.080
- Everybody was afraid.

00:38:48.080 --> 00:38:49.460
I mean, we've always been afraid

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.370
because they had count days.

00:38:51.370 --> 00:38:52.660
They would count the numbers

00:38:52.660 --> 00:38:55.090
that somebody is gonna
come and shut us down

00:38:55.090 --> 00:38:57.300
because we're not getting enough students.

00:38:57.300 --> 00:39:01.160
So I bought a full page ad in the Observer

00:39:01.160 --> 00:39:03.350
and said Community High enrollment

00:39:03.350 --> 00:39:06.430
starts March 31st or something,

00:39:06.430 --> 00:39:07.803
seats are limited.

00:39:09.130 --> 00:39:10.650
And people showed up.

00:39:10.650 --> 00:39:13.770
First year, some people lined
up, but they got right in.

00:39:13.770 --> 00:39:18.277
The second year the line was
too long and then it got crazy.

00:39:18.277 --> 00:39:21.610
(bright dramatic music)

00:39:23.379 --> 00:39:27.960
I mean, it got crazy because
people started realizing

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:30.513
that this place is a pretty good deal.

00:39:31.492 --> 00:39:34.880
(dramatic music)

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:36.370
- We are in the parking lot

00:39:36.370 --> 00:39:38.480
of the Balas Administration building.

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:39.850
This is where the line started.

00:39:39.850 --> 00:39:40.920
No, it ended.

00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:42.120
This is where the line ended.

00:39:42.120 --> 00:39:44.583
I'm pretty sure it was right here.

00:39:45.640 --> 00:39:47.893
And if it wasn't right here,

00:39:48.910 --> 00:39:51.320
I think it was right here.

00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:55.380
My friend and I were
talking with our parents

00:39:55.380 --> 00:39:58.850
about how we really
wanted to go to Community.

00:39:58.850 --> 00:40:01.850
And we weren't sure when
the line was gonna start

00:40:01.850 --> 00:40:03.270
or who was gonna start it.

00:40:03.270 --> 00:40:07.120
And my mom was a single mom
working in Jackson at the time,

00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:08.240
45 minutes away.

00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:10.720
And she knew that if the line started

00:40:10.720 --> 00:40:11.930
during the middle of the week,

00:40:11.930 --> 00:40:14.440
she wouldn't be able to get
me there in the morning.

00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:16.730
And so I was the first one who showed up

00:40:16.730 --> 00:40:18.977
and a woman got out of
the minivan and she said,

00:40:18.977 --> 00:40:22.080
"Excuse me, are you starting the line?"

00:40:22.080 --> 00:40:24.970
And I was sort of like,
"Yeah, I guess I am."

00:40:24.970 --> 00:40:27.067
And they called people.

00:40:27.067 --> 00:40:29.650
They had some sort of
elaborate phone tree planned.

00:40:29.650 --> 00:40:32.940
And within 30 minutes,
the lot was full of eager,

00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:35.020
bright eyed, bushy tailed eighth graders

00:40:35.020 --> 00:40:37.920
who were really committed
to getting the education

00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:40.051
that Community would provide.

00:40:40.051 --> 00:40:42.801
(dramatic music)

00:40:50.007 --> 00:40:52.380
- If you're forced to wait
in line for weeks on end,

00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.813
you're gonna really love whatever it was

00:40:53.813 --> 00:40:55.160
that you waited for.

00:40:55.160 --> 00:40:58.030
So there must be like a super
intensity among the people

00:40:58.030 --> 00:40:59.300
that waited in those lines.

00:40:59.300 --> 00:41:00.133
- When we were there,

00:41:00.133 --> 00:41:01.990
some national magazines came in

00:41:01.990 --> 00:41:03.450
and did some like stories or something,

00:41:03.450 --> 00:41:05.530
maybe Teen magazine or
something like that.

00:41:05.530 --> 00:41:08.240
- I personally think it was
Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.

00:41:08.240 --> 00:41:09.560
I mean, they came out right after,

00:41:09.560 --> 00:41:11.870
then the whole grunge
movement hit like hardcore,

00:41:11.870 --> 00:41:13.291
it was just, I wanna be alternative,

00:41:13.291 --> 00:41:14.760
just like everybody else.

00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:17.200
So you go to Community High
to be like alternative.

00:41:17.200 --> 00:41:19.000
- Like Community was
already the alternative.

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.833
- [Mike] Yeah.

00:41:19.833 --> 00:41:20.666
- [Davy] And all of a sudden

00:41:20.666 --> 00:41:21.800
alternative became cool.

00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:22.920
- It became the cool school

00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:24.810
because it became the smart school.

00:41:24.810 --> 00:41:27.250
Community kids were outperforming

00:41:27.250 --> 00:41:28.810
the two main high schools.

00:41:28.810 --> 00:41:31.610
Parents recognized that the
quality of the education

00:41:31.610 --> 00:41:35.520
was almost rivaling
private school education.

00:41:35.520 --> 00:41:39.170
- I would bring reporters
and others through Community.

00:41:39.170 --> 00:41:40.680
Just as an example,

00:41:40.680 --> 00:41:45.680
we need more schools that are effective

00:41:46.370 --> 00:41:48.330
in lifting the kids, helping them achieve,

00:41:48.330 --> 00:41:50.920
not having them drop out
and then taking next steps.

00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:54.210
And Community was among
the best performing

00:41:54.210 --> 00:41:55.600
on our standardized tests.

00:41:55.600 --> 00:41:57.930
They get a great education
and they go on to college

00:41:57.930 --> 00:42:00.830
in higher numbers than
almost any other school.

00:42:00.830 --> 00:42:02.870
- I think that a lot of the lure for me

00:42:02.870 --> 00:42:05.620
was there was no bell system,

00:42:05.620 --> 00:42:07.390
there was no PA system.

00:42:07.390 --> 00:42:08.620
You didn't have to like raise your hand

00:42:08.620 --> 00:42:10.850
to go to the bathroom or leave class.

00:42:10.850 --> 00:42:12.920
You're respected as a like...

00:42:12.920 --> 00:42:14.810
And you called your teachers
by their first names.

00:42:14.810 --> 00:42:17.680
It was just a totally different world.

00:42:17.680 --> 00:42:18.513
Like I don't even know

00:42:18.513 --> 00:42:20.730
how people could exist
in regular high schools.

00:42:22.040 --> 00:42:23.099
- Totally, that's a good way to put it.

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:24.010
- [Taru] ...and ran into my room.

00:42:24.010 --> 00:42:24.843
Oh, hey.

00:42:24.843 --> 00:42:25.676
- Holy shit.

00:42:25.676 --> 00:42:27.543
Another guy from our
Community High School class.

00:42:27.543 --> 00:42:30.630
- [Davy] Oh my God, this is amazing Taru.

00:42:30.630 --> 00:42:32.940
- When Dave and I went, there
were skinheads, roughnecks,

00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:34.040
leatherheads, greasers.

00:42:34.040 --> 00:42:35.190
No one wanted to go to Community.

00:42:35.190 --> 00:42:36.420
So there was no lottery.

00:42:36.420 --> 00:42:37.780
But by the time we graduated,

00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:38.840
everyone wanted to go to Community.

00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:39.710
They stood in line.

00:42:39.710 --> 00:42:41.330
They fought over...[Laughter]

00:42:41.330 --> 00:42:43.540
...to get their kids
to get into Community.

00:42:43.540 --> 00:42:45.760
Mike, Dan and Dave and I were very lucky.

00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:47.130
None of us had to wait in line.

00:42:47.130 --> 00:42:49.370
We just signed up and
we were in right away.

00:42:49.370 --> 00:42:51.640
- Yeah this was like junior,
senior year of high school

00:42:51.640 --> 00:42:52.510
something like that.

00:42:52.510 --> 00:42:54.110
This is an amazing picture Taru.

00:42:54.110 --> 00:42:54.943
I've never seen this.

00:42:54.943 --> 00:42:55.776
- Yeah.

00:42:55.776 --> 00:42:56.686
That's 'cause...

00:42:56.686 --> 00:43:00.019
(bright dramatic music)

00:43:07.020 --> 00:43:12.020
- April 1st, 20 years ago
today, the line ended.

00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:16.630
I had my comforter and I was
wrapping myself in my blanket.

00:43:16.630 --> 00:43:19.400
And Dean Judy was there to shake the hand

00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:21.500
of all of the kids in line.

00:43:21.500 --> 00:43:25.040
And the news crews were
there and shuffled up,

00:43:25.040 --> 00:43:29.100
shook her hand and was enrolled like that.

00:43:29.100 --> 00:43:32.564
Simple as two weeks of
camping out outside.

00:43:32.564 --> 00:43:35.314
(dramatic music)

00:43:37.220 --> 00:43:39.500
- It's a very complicated time

00:43:39.500 --> 00:43:41.883
because it had built up to that.

00:43:42.920 --> 00:43:46.460
And I didn't like it to be real honest.

00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:48.110
I mean the first time the line came,

00:43:48.110 --> 00:43:50.560
when it lasted all night,
it was sort of a festival.

00:43:50.560 --> 00:43:51.393
And that was funny.

00:43:51.393 --> 00:43:53.720
It had nothing to do with
inconvenience for me.

00:43:53.720 --> 00:43:57.490
But see, I could see who
wasn't going to Community

00:43:57.490 --> 00:43:59.030
all of these years.

00:43:59.030 --> 00:44:00.750
It wasn't a diverse school.

00:44:00.750 --> 00:44:02.590
And that was pointed out to me

00:44:02.590 --> 00:44:06.210
by other people in the
Community all the time.

00:44:06.210 --> 00:44:10.200
I always wanted to figure a
more equitable way of doing it,

00:44:10.200 --> 00:44:13.560
but I couldn't come up with
anything other than a lottery.

00:44:13.560 --> 00:44:15.310
- At first, I thought a
lottery was a bad idea

00:44:15.310 --> 00:44:16.956
because then we wouldn't necessarily

00:44:16.956 --> 00:44:19.220
get the most committed people.

00:44:19.220 --> 00:44:22.020
But what we were getting
from that kind of a line

00:44:22.020 --> 00:44:24.670
was that it gave a special priority

00:44:24.670 --> 00:44:27.640
to people who could afford to
hire people to stay in line,

00:44:27.640 --> 00:44:30.700
could fly their grandparents
in or quit work for two weeks.

00:44:30.700 --> 00:44:31.700
And that's crazy.

00:44:31.700 --> 00:44:35.440
- Part of the reason that
Community, the line was there

00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:39.200
was just people not liking
those big high schools,

00:44:39.200 --> 00:44:40.353
big impersonal.

00:44:41.222 --> 00:44:44.555
(indistinct chattering)

00:44:47.120 --> 00:44:48.243
- Oh my gosh.

00:44:49.160 --> 00:44:50.910
Midcentury modern patterns.

00:44:50.910 --> 00:44:53.000
It's a coloring book,
which I actually love.

00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:54.280
I take the paper,

00:44:54.280 --> 00:44:57.730
I make a big ball and I throw it behind me

00:44:57.730 --> 00:45:00.280
and I put the present in front of me.

00:45:00.280 --> 00:45:02.171
So you all can see what you can steal.

00:45:02.171 --> 00:45:03.074
- What's that?

00:45:03.074 --> 00:45:08.016
(students chattering)

00:45:16.350 --> 00:45:18.956
It's a hammer...

00:45:18.956 --> 00:45:21.504
[Judith] That's not all that it is...

00:45:22.437 --> 00:45:24.853
- [Judith] And what did
you get, rubber bands?

00:45:24.853 --> 00:45:27.242
(indistinct)

00:45:39.508 --> 00:45:42.563
♪ On an open fire ♪

00:45:42.563 --> 00:45:46.813
♪ Jack Frost nippin' at your nose. ♪

00:45:48.240 --> 00:45:49.690
- This is registration.

00:45:49.690 --> 00:45:52.440
We get in a room and we put
stickers on pieces of paper

00:45:52.440 --> 00:45:54.520
and we exchange stickers.

00:45:54.520 --> 00:45:57.290
This is old school. Face-to-face.

00:45:57.290 --> 00:46:00.630
There'll be some tears
when the freshmen get here

00:46:00.630 --> 00:46:02.280
and they don't know what to do

00:46:02.280 --> 00:46:05.070
and they're not getting
the classes they need.

00:46:05.070 --> 00:46:08.560
And then we say...we talk
them down off the ledge

00:46:08.560 --> 00:46:11.520
and we say, you know
what it's gonna be okay.

00:46:11.520 --> 00:46:13.300
It's called drop and add.

00:46:13.300 --> 00:46:16.000
And this is Community and
we make it work for you.

00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:17.350
- Do you like my earrings?

00:46:17.350 --> 00:46:20.690
I got them at a craft's fair
about maybe 30 years ago.

00:46:20.690 --> 00:46:23.130
I wear them one day a
year and today's the day.

00:46:23.130 --> 00:46:26.280
The wonderful thing about
this kind of registration

00:46:26.280 --> 00:46:28.660
is the kids feel like
they have some agency

00:46:28.660 --> 00:46:30.070
and it's something, honestly,

00:46:30.070 --> 00:46:31.570
we have to fight to keep.

00:46:31.570 --> 00:46:34.320
Because it's easier if the
computer does everything

00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:35.493
and it's not as good.

00:46:37.046 --> 00:46:39.879
(uplifting music)

00:46:51.394 --> 00:46:53.811
(indistinct)

00:46:55.829 --> 00:46:57.193
- Here's the new issue.

00:46:57.193 --> 00:47:01.580
So this is kind of a
reaction to the election.

00:47:01.580 --> 00:47:04.320
So I think we're making a
point to try and be open

00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:05.970
to other opinions.

00:47:05.970 --> 00:47:06.803
But I think that when we're faced

00:47:06.803 --> 00:47:09.750
with direct racism and sexism

00:47:10.710 --> 00:47:14.040
we're not so worried
about different opinions

00:47:14.040 --> 00:47:16.780
when we're saying we
don't like that in a way,

00:47:16.780 --> 00:47:18.400
but I think, oh man

00:47:18.400 --> 00:47:20.300
I'm prouder of it than
anything I've ever done

00:47:20.300 --> 00:47:22.500
on Communicator, I think, this edition.

00:47:22.500 --> 00:47:25.360
Yeah, I am 116.

00:47:25.360 --> 00:47:28.057
It's a pretty low number,
but we're gonna be okay.

00:47:28.057 --> 00:47:30.850
The only class that I have...I'm
not even worried about

00:47:30.850 --> 00:47:31.683
getting into it,

00:47:31.683 --> 00:47:32.980
but that might be at all difficult

00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:34.920
to get into is Sci-Fi lit with Ken.

00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:36.470
I've never had an English class with Ken

00:47:36.470 --> 00:47:39.020
and I've taken six semesters with Judith.

00:47:39.020 --> 00:47:40.060
So I'm like, okay,

00:47:40.060 --> 00:47:41.230
it's time for something new.

00:47:41.230 --> 00:47:42.730
Oh, and I'm taking an independent study

00:47:42.730 --> 00:47:45.060
with Chloe Root and my friend Ruby

00:47:45.060 --> 00:47:48.360
about like the power of protest
and social change and stuff,

00:47:48.360 --> 00:47:50.410
because I'm a little bit angry right now.

00:47:51.328 --> 00:47:54.078
(dramatic music)

00:48:01.973 --> 00:48:04.498
(indistinct)

00:48:04.498 --> 00:48:08.060
- So why don't we do number
17 here, right there?

00:48:08.060 --> 00:48:09.470
Next semester.

00:48:09.470 --> 00:48:13.100
It's all seniors. So I
feel like. (indistinct)

00:48:26.460 --> 00:48:28.960
- Hello, welcome to
"The Mike Johnson Show."

00:48:28.960 --> 00:48:31.590
Today we'll be talking with Charlene Day

00:48:31.590 --> 00:48:32.871
from Community High School.

00:48:32.871 --> 00:48:33.837
Hello Charlene.

00:48:33.837 --> 00:48:35.140
- Hi.

00:48:35.140 --> 00:48:37.540
- Why did you pick Community High School?

00:48:37.540 --> 00:48:38.640
- Well, for one reason,

00:48:38.640 --> 00:48:41.350
I wasn't getting very good
grades at my old school.

00:48:41.350 --> 00:48:45.490
And I heard about the freedom
in Community and I liked that.

00:48:45.490 --> 00:48:48.320
- What do you like best
about Community High?

00:48:48.320 --> 00:48:51.100
- I like best, the personal relationship

00:48:51.100 --> 00:48:52.715
you have with the teachers.

00:48:52.715 --> 00:48:53.890
(chuckles)

00:48:53.890 --> 00:48:55.880
- Well, it's time to go now.

00:48:55.880 --> 00:48:57.150
I'd like to thank Charlene

00:48:57.150 --> 00:49:00.463
for being here with us today, bye.

00:49:03.458 --> 00:49:05.380
(footsteps thudding)

00:49:05.380 --> 00:49:07.800
- Just 'cause some of us
have done this for years

00:49:07.800 --> 00:49:10.080
doesn't mean that everyone
knows the process.

00:49:10.080 --> 00:49:11.690
And just so that we're
kind of crystal clear

00:49:11.690 --> 00:49:12.830
before things begin,

00:49:12.830 --> 00:49:15.610
John has a box of names.

00:49:15.610 --> 00:49:17.438
- [Woman 1] How many names do we have?

00:49:17.438 --> 00:49:18.954
- 393.

00:49:18.954 --> 00:49:19.787
- [Woman 1] Okay.

00:49:19.787 --> 00:49:21.670
- For how many available spots?

00:49:21.670 --> 00:49:22.503
- 132.

00:49:24.700 --> 00:49:26.840
John's gonna draw a name,

00:49:26.840 --> 00:49:30.240
at the same time Brian will draw a number.

00:49:30.240 --> 00:49:31.840
John will read the name first

00:49:31.840 --> 00:49:35.380
because the three of you
have the list alphabetical.

00:49:35.380 --> 00:49:37.130
So depending upon what part
of the alphabet you'll say,

00:49:37.130 --> 00:49:38.200
okay, I found them.

00:49:38.200 --> 00:49:40.090
And once you find them,

00:49:40.090 --> 00:49:42.600
then Brian will read out
loud what number they have.

00:49:42.600 --> 00:49:45.200
And you're gonna write that
in the far right column.

00:49:45.200 --> 00:49:46.033
- 102.

00:49:46.910 --> 00:49:48.860
- It's kind of like Vegas

00:49:48.860 --> 00:49:52.630
in that what's said in this
room stays in this room

00:49:53.890 --> 00:49:56.360
because these are kids' lives

00:49:56.360 --> 00:49:58.130
who are being matched to numbers.

00:49:58.130 --> 00:50:00.610
And we are going to post this

00:50:00.610 --> 00:50:02.593
on the website tonight at 7:30.

00:50:04.130 --> 00:50:06.010
- Oh it's here.
- There they are.

00:50:06.010 --> 00:50:07.830
- It says click here to see the results

00:50:07.830 --> 00:50:11.120
of the 2017/ 2018 lottery.

00:50:11.120 --> 00:50:13.270
Whatever it is, it is, right?

00:50:13.270 --> 00:50:14.933
Whatever it is, we deal with it.

00:50:17.190 --> 00:50:18.804
- [Trevor] She was avoiding it.

00:50:18.804 --> 00:50:19.637
- [Leah] Of course.

00:50:19.637 --> 00:50:21.640
- Oh, I thought I heard you sniffling.

00:50:21.640 --> 00:50:25.500
- No. Mom you're getting
way more nervous than I am.

00:50:25.500 --> 00:50:26.333
- I know.

00:50:27.930 --> 00:50:28.763
(chuckles)

00:50:28.763 --> 00:50:29.670
- Oh boy.

00:50:29.670 --> 00:50:32.670
- She doesn't feel like she has to get in.

00:50:32.670 --> 00:50:36.090
She feels like she wants
to have the option.

00:50:36.090 --> 00:50:37.800
So that's good.

00:50:37.800 --> 00:50:40.893
I'm afraid my heart might
be kind of set on it.

00:50:42.030 --> 00:50:44.290
And I'm afraid that it
might be hard for me

00:50:44.290 --> 00:50:45.430
if she doesn't get in,

00:50:45.430 --> 00:50:47.450
it might even be harder
for me if she gets in

00:50:47.450 --> 00:50:49.950
and then decides she doesn't wanna go.

00:50:49.950 --> 00:50:52.580
I wanna try to not take stuff personally.

00:50:52.580 --> 00:50:57.177
There's part of me that's
invested and has a lot of hope

00:50:58.440 --> 00:51:00.400
that she gets in and that she wants to go.

00:51:00.400 --> 00:51:02.810
- That's pretty different
than it was when we went.

00:51:02.810 --> 00:51:06.063
But we still hear from
kids that they love it.

00:51:08.018 --> 00:51:09.480
That it's like a dream for them.

00:51:09.480 --> 00:51:12.130
And I hear from parents of
kids who are going there,

00:51:13.090 --> 00:51:14.080
that it's just amazing.

00:51:14.080 --> 00:51:15.242
They're not in order, can we do find?

00:51:15.242 --> 00:51:16.418
- [Kelly] They are not in order.

00:51:16.418 --> 00:51:18.251
I don't know, can you?

00:51:24.389 --> 00:51:25.450
I think you got in.

00:51:25.450 --> 00:51:26.578
- Wait, is that me?

00:51:26.578 --> 00:51:27.464
(chuckles)

00:51:27.464 --> 00:51:28.381
Is that me?

00:51:30.930 --> 00:51:32.940
- [Trevor] Number 102.

00:51:32.940 --> 00:51:34.440
- Oh, mom you're crying.

00:51:34.440 --> 00:51:37.253
- I can't believe it. You're so lucky.

00:51:38.750 --> 00:51:39.943
You're so lucky.

00:51:44.290 --> 00:51:47.480
- Even before there
was a lottery or a line

00:51:47.480 --> 00:51:52.270
you had to be guided
there often by someone.

00:51:52.270 --> 00:51:56.650
And so if you weren't
connected into a network

00:51:56.650 --> 00:51:58.290
or a community of others

00:51:58.290 --> 00:52:01.690
that knew about the place
and knew what it represented

00:52:01.690 --> 00:52:03.850
and what its potential was,

00:52:03.850 --> 00:52:05.690
you weren't gonna get access to it.

00:52:05.690 --> 00:52:08.060
- They have outreach
programs. They try very hard.

00:52:08.060 --> 00:52:11.190
It is a fair lottery. Absolutely.

00:52:11.190 --> 00:52:14.880
Ann Arbor is a super
rich, super white town

00:52:14.880 --> 00:52:17.350
compared to what it used to be.

00:52:17.350 --> 00:52:20.480
Community has a special,
precious place in the community.

00:52:20.480 --> 00:52:22.880
And frankly, the community
is getting more wealthy

00:52:22.880 --> 00:52:25.430
and Community High School has
been getting more wealthy.

00:52:25.430 --> 00:52:27.720
So although it's still a lottery,

00:52:27.720 --> 00:52:30.780
you still just have the people
that are able to actually

00:52:30.780 --> 00:52:32.960
get to Community High School all the time

00:52:32.960 --> 00:52:34.990
and be involved on that level.

00:52:34.990 --> 00:52:37.020
- So Community had this reputation

00:52:37.020 --> 00:52:39.460
of being like this really
weird little school.

00:52:39.460 --> 00:52:41.730
So a lot of the children
of African descent

00:52:41.730 --> 00:52:43.825
were not in that school.

00:52:43.825 --> 00:52:47.110
I think after I got there more came,

00:52:47.110 --> 00:52:49.860
but it was still a
special group of students.

00:52:49.860 --> 00:52:52.910
Kids that didn't wanna leave
the mainstream high school.

00:52:52.910 --> 00:52:55.230
- I had a mission as dean

00:52:55.230 --> 00:52:57.260
to increase the minority
enrollment period.

00:52:57.260 --> 00:52:58.780
I didn't care if the state required it

00:52:58.780 --> 00:52:59.990
or the district wanted it.

00:52:59.990 --> 00:53:02.390
I was like, no, we're a community

00:53:02.390 --> 00:53:04.600
we need to reflect the community.

00:53:04.600 --> 00:53:08.910
And that was an uphill
battle in the Black community

00:53:08.910 --> 00:53:12.350
because so many black parents
are very, very traditional.

00:53:12.350 --> 00:53:14.810
That is not a criticism, but it's like,

00:53:14.810 --> 00:53:16.630
no, my idea of school is,

00:53:16.630 --> 00:53:19.237
you need to go to a place
that looks like Pioneer.

00:53:19.237 --> 00:53:22.310
- It wasn't much debating with my father.

00:53:22.310 --> 00:53:24.380
I called him the black Archie Bunker.

00:53:24.380 --> 00:53:26.140
There wasn't much debate.

00:53:26.140 --> 00:53:28.300
And at the end of the year,

00:53:28.300 --> 00:53:29.910
my father came and I remember

00:53:29.910 --> 00:53:31.164
he sat down at the dinner table

00:53:31.164 --> 00:53:31.997
and he said,

00:53:31.997 --> 00:53:34.450
"That's it. You're going
to Huron next year."

00:53:34.450 --> 00:53:35.650
Now I was mad.

00:53:35.650 --> 00:53:37.510
Of course, when you're young, you think,

00:53:37.510 --> 00:53:40.180
I thought my father was
the stupidest person

00:53:40.180 --> 00:53:42.450
God ever put two shoes on.

00:53:42.450 --> 00:53:47.450
I needed the structure
and my father knew it.

00:53:47.650 --> 00:53:52.650
And to him structure was
safety. And he was right.

00:53:52.930 --> 00:53:57.740
- To me, it was just all good.

00:53:57.740 --> 00:53:58.870
I had my problems.

00:53:58.870 --> 00:53:59.950
I had things that I was doing

00:53:59.950 --> 00:54:01.130
that I wasn't supposed to be doing,

00:54:01.130 --> 00:54:02.080
but at the same time,

00:54:02.080 --> 00:54:05.470
and I was rubbing shoulders
with just awesome people.

00:54:05.470 --> 00:54:09.690
I find that I learn more
about myself when I...

00:54:09.690 --> 00:54:13.680
and my culture, when I am
around people who are different,

00:54:13.680 --> 00:54:16.040
because that's when I see who I am.

00:54:16.040 --> 00:54:17.530
It's not good. It's not bad.

00:54:17.530 --> 00:54:18.790
It's just, it is what it is.

00:54:18.790 --> 00:54:21.640
But the thing is just
having this appreciation

00:54:21.640 --> 00:54:22.720
that there are different people

00:54:22.720 --> 00:54:27.193
and these different people who
live differently are valid.

00:54:28.317 --> 00:54:30.833
- He would doubt his
father around the year.

00:54:30.833 --> 00:54:32.601
- [Woman] Go upstairs Melody.

00:54:32.601 --> 00:54:33.434
(crying)

00:54:33.434 --> 00:54:34.267
- This pain is...

00:54:34.267 --> 00:54:35.693
(Indistinct)

00:54:35.693 --> 00:54:37.210
- What do the two of you do

00:54:37.210 --> 00:54:39.510
out there in the woods alone anyhow?

00:54:39.510 --> 00:54:40.730
- Nothing.

00:54:40.730 --> 00:54:43.140
- Actually mum, you should see them.

00:54:43.140 --> 00:54:45.262
Peggy was furious.

00:54:45.262 --> 00:54:46.095
- Look at that.

00:54:46.095 --> 00:54:48.400
- People talk, but they don't know.

00:54:48.400 --> 00:54:50.329
It's them that's the...

00:54:50.329 --> 00:54:51.671
(audience clapping and cheering)

00:54:51.671 --> 00:54:54.374
- Top of the show! Places
for top of the show.

00:54:54.374 --> 00:54:56.813
- [Girl] One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight.

00:54:56.813 --> 00:54:58.187
- [Boy] It's seven, eight. I think.

00:54:58.187 --> 00:55:00.843
- [Girl] And then, do
we go right from there?

00:55:01.880 --> 00:55:02.713
- Line.

00:55:02.713 --> 00:55:03.546
- [Girl] What do you mean my heart?

00:55:03.546 --> 00:55:05.330
- What do you mean my purse?

00:55:05.330 --> 00:55:08.500
Line and...line.

00:55:08.500 --> 00:55:11.019
Friends, if I may say so it is...line-

00:55:11.019 --> 00:55:11.910
- [Girl] If he's thinking-

00:55:11.910 --> 00:55:12.970
- If he's thinking about-

00:55:12.970 --> 00:55:14.910
- We could do this all night tonight,

00:55:14.910 --> 00:55:18.000
so we're gonna skip ahead
to the end of this song

00:55:18.000 --> 00:55:20.150
'cause we need to get
to some other things.

00:55:21.330 --> 00:55:23.010
Hey folks, go get in positions

00:55:23.010 --> 00:55:24.983
for the last moment of the song please.

00:55:26.670 --> 00:55:27.585
- Which is mostly in general.

00:55:27.585 --> 00:55:30.113
- I have a lot of lines,
which as you can tell.

00:55:32.240 --> 00:55:33.541
- You'll see,

00:55:33.541 --> 00:55:35.720
I actually spin a lot
before I go on this scene

00:55:35.720 --> 00:55:37.010
'cause I'm supposed to be hung over.

00:55:37.010 --> 00:55:37.950
So it's wild.

00:55:37.950 --> 00:55:38.783
- Do you actually do that.

00:55:38.783 --> 00:55:40.240
- Yes, I do that backstage.

00:55:40.240 --> 00:55:41.214
Yeah, I'm not a good actor.

00:55:41.214 --> 00:55:44.214
So I have to do something like that.

00:55:47.300 --> 00:55:49.400
- [Evelyn] Clarence Collins III,

00:55:49.400 --> 00:55:52.543
my sister's youngest son, only son.

00:55:54.226 --> 00:55:56.076
- I'm spinning so I look hung over.

00:55:57.830 --> 00:56:00.920
- Naturally gifted, an actor.

00:56:00.920 --> 00:56:02.450
I didn't know he could sing.

00:56:02.450 --> 00:56:04.460
You see, I've been in
New York most of the time

00:56:04.460 --> 00:56:06.020
that he's been growing up.

00:56:06.020 --> 00:56:08.320
So I know my nephew with the trumpet

00:56:08.320 --> 00:56:09.730
and playing with all the jazz,

00:56:09.730 --> 00:56:11.480
just blowing people off the stage.

00:56:11.480 --> 00:56:12.717
That's what I know.

00:56:12.717 --> 00:56:15.550
(trumpet blowing)

00:56:23.090 --> 00:56:25.520
So to come in and my niece
tells me Clarence is in a play.

00:56:25.520 --> 00:56:28.180
I was like, Clarence is in a play?

00:56:28.180 --> 00:56:30.193
When did Clarence started doing plays?

00:56:32.680 --> 00:56:37.680
- Where do they think they
are in Moscow and Paris?

00:56:38.240 --> 00:56:40.340
- Since there's so many of these moments

00:56:40.340 --> 00:56:41.240
that I've given you

00:56:41.240 --> 00:56:42.840
where you can play it however you want to.

00:56:42.840 --> 00:56:43.673
- Yeah.

00:56:43.673 --> 00:56:47.280
- Just...a lot of it is happening here.

00:56:47.280 --> 00:56:48.113
- Yeah.

00:56:48.113 --> 00:56:49.990
- Any moment where you
go right to the edge

00:56:51.630 --> 00:56:53.040
is a pretty dramatic thing

00:56:53.040 --> 00:56:54.413
and probably shouldn't
stay there too long.

00:56:54.413 --> 00:56:55.246
- Okay.

00:56:55.246 --> 00:56:56.079
- So it's in our family.

00:56:56.079 --> 00:56:57.760
All of us were in the theater.

00:56:57.760 --> 00:57:01.360
And I like to think that my
sister is there with him.

00:57:01.360 --> 00:57:03.250
'Cause he feels like her.

00:57:03.250 --> 00:57:04.330
She's no longer with us,

00:57:04.330 --> 00:57:07.860
but he feels like her
to me in so many ways

00:57:07.860 --> 00:57:11.200
that I get kind of teary
when I see him on the stage.

00:57:11.200 --> 00:57:14.363
She was an actor too and
did performances too.

00:57:15.470 --> 00:57:17.290
But Clarence, I don't know.

00:57:17.290 --> 00:57:19.450
What do you want me to say about Clarence?

00:57:19.450 --> 00:57:20.760
He can do anything.

00:57:20.760 --> 00:57:23.870
- I mean, this is built
for these kinds of moments.

00:57:23.870 --> 00:57:25.220
- Yeah.
- So let's use it.

00:57:26.410 --> 00:57:30.010
If you strike a great pose, then that...

00:57:30.010 --> 00:57:31.140
Think about where you are

00:57:31.140 --> 00:57:33.547
and think those people just got that

00:57:33.547 --> 00:57:37.330
and maybe now I need to
give this area or something

00:57:37.330 --> 00:57:39.150
'cause you're it right
now, you're the show.

00:57:39.150 --> 00:57:39.983
- [Clarence] For sure.

00:57:39.983 --> 00:57:41.413
- So just making sure
that everybody has access.

00:57:41.413 --> 00:57:42.246
- Okay.

00:57:42.246 --> 00:57:43.079
- You're doing great.

00:57:43.079 --> 00:57:45.259
(indistinct chattering)

00:57:45.259 --> 00:57:46.630
- This is too close to this.

00:57:46.630 --> 00:57:48.182
This is less...

00:57:48.182 --> 00:57:50.150
This is a little more
than...this is a week and a half

00:57:50.150 --> 00:57:51.831
to opening night.

00:57:51.831 --> 00:57:53.015
I'm freaking out.

00:57:53.015 --> 00:57:55.130
Like a good healthy freak out right now.

00:57:55.130 --> 00:57:56.823
We got nine days, nine days.

00:57:59.389 --> 00:58:00.760
I think out of...

00:58:00.760 --> 00:58:01.593
Oh, by the way,

00:58:01.593 --> 00:58:03.610
also a baby could come at any minute now

00:58:03.610 --> 00:58:04.660
that's in my life.

00:58:04.660 --> 00:58:06.336
My wife is expecting, so...

00:58:06.336 --> 00:58:08.990
Oren is my co-director, that's how...

00:58:08.990 --> 00:58:09.890
It's not gonna happen.

00:58:09.890 --> 00:58:12.170
So that's why we hired Oren.

00:58:12.170 --> 00:58:15.776
We've just got a lot of work to do

00:58:15.776 --> 00:58:18.013
so as long as we all do
it, it's gonna be great.

00:58:18.960 --> 00:58:23.897
But where do they think
they are in Moscow in Paris?

00:58:24.880 --> 00:58:28.493
Where do they think they are, America?

00:58:32.212 --> 00:58:35.300
(indistinct chattering)

00:58:35.300 --> 00:58:37.080
- I was born in America.

00:58:37.080 --> 00:58:39.450
I went to Ann Arbor public
schools my whole life.

00:58:39.450 --> 00:58:41.783
And I was just like a normal American kid.

00:58:42.920 --> 00:58:44.400
I don't know anything different.

00:58:44.400 --> 00:58:48.330
So my dad every two weeks,
he goes to immigration.

00:58:48.330 --> 00:58:51.000
Like we would have to like
leave the house earlier.

00:58:51.000 --> 00:58:52.470
So my dad can go drop us to school

00:58:52.470 --> 00:58:54.500
and then he would drive to Detroit.

00:58:54.500 --> 00:58:56.300
When I would call my dad
to pick me up from school,

00:58:56.300 --> 00:58:57.950
he would be back home.

00:58:57.950 --> 00:59:02.070
But then I called him one
day, he wasn't back home.

00:59:02.070 --> 00:59:03.193
- We went to...are we at?

00:59:04.520 --> 00:59:06.610
Michigan adventure
- Michigan adventure.

00:59:06.610 --> 00:59:07.763
And this is my family.

00:59:09.270 --> 00:59:11.043
It's just really cute
picture of my family.

00:59:12.810 --> 00:59:14.300
- A local father of four

00:59:14.300 --> 00:59:17.170
facing possible
deportation hours from now.

00:59:17.170 --> 00:59:21.080
Tonight, a chorus of his
supporters grows louder.

00:59:21.080 --> 00:59:22.010
Good to have you with us tonight at six.

00:59:22.010 --> 00:59:23.750
Off the top, Yousef Ajin

00:59:23.750 --> 00:59:25.797
who has lived here for 18 years

00:59:25.797 --> 00:59:27.867
and has been working towards citizenship.

00:59:27.867 --> 00:59:29.220
- [Kimberly] Local 4's Priya Mann

00:59:29.220 --> 00:59:30.840
live at the federal building downtown

00:59:30.840 --> 00:59:33.210
ahead of tomorrow's deportation hearing.

00:59:33.210 --> 00:59:34.610
Priya, what can you tell us?

00:59:35.500 --> 00:59:36.333
- Well, Kimberly,

00:59:36.333 --> 00:59:38.020
that hearing is scheduled
for about two o'clock

00:59:38.020 --> 00:59:40.640
at the McNamara Federal
Building. The family hopes

00:59:40.640 --> 00:59:41.910
there's a large crowd here,

00:59:41.910 --> 00:59:45.180
not protesting, but showing
their support for Yousef.

00:59:45.180 --> 00:59:47.840
A father of four who
could now be deported.

00:59:47.840 --> 00:59:49.290
- It doesn't just affect my dad

00:59:49.290 --> 00:59:50.490
and I don't think people realize

00:59:50.490 --> 00:59:51.757
it's just not my dad's life.

00:59:51.757 --> 00:59:54.260
It affects our whole family's lives.

00:59:54.260 --> 00:59:57.870
I felt sad, but that this could happen

00:59:57.870 --> 01:00:01.163
to a family that lived
in America for so long.

01:00:02.288 --> 01:00:03.350
It scared me.

01:00:03.350 --> 01:00:06.320
At first, I was really nervous
to start to tell people,

01:00:06.320 --> 01:00:08.960
but then I was like,
everyone's gonna find out

01:00:08.960 --> 01:00:09.850
one way or another.

01:00:09.850 --> 01:00:12.500
And it's like, it's better if people know,

01:00:12.500 --> 01:00:15.690
so people can come and
people can see like,

01:00:15.690 --> 01:00:18.610
this is what America is supposed to be.

01:00:18.610 --> 01:00:23.140
Kind of leaning on families
and like raising people up.

01:00:23.140 --> 01:00:25.320
- How have you felt
through this whole process?

01:00:25.320 --> 01:00:27.350
Through the last two weeks?

01:00:27.350 --> 01:00:28.440
- Oh, it's hard.

01:00:28.440 --> 01:00:30.290
- And have you guys gone
to visit him at all?

01:00:30.290 --> 01:00:31.603
- He doesn't want us to go.

01:00:31.603 --> 01:00:34.330
- I was planning, but
he said, "Don't come."

01:00:34.330 --> 01:00:36.730
He doesn't want the kids
to go to see him. Yeah.

01:00:38.100 --> 01:00:38.933
- Why do you think that is?

01:00:38.933 --> 01:00:42.300
- 'Cause he doesn't want us
to like see him like that.

01:00:42.300 --> 01:00:44.600
I just want people to be there

01:00:44.600 --> 01:00:48.497
and see what democracy looks like

01:00:48.497 --> 01:00:52.313
and what people can do
for each other. Yeah.

01:00:53.170 --> 01:00:55.720
- Betoul Ajin spoke
about her father, Yousef

01:00:55.720 --> 01:00:57.580
who's facing deportation.

01:00:57.580 --> 01:00:59.280
The teen's high school paper in Ann Arbor

01:00:59.280 --> 01:01:02.770
documented Yousef's
struggle to stay in the US.

01:01:02.770 --> 01:01:04.160
Reporting live from downtown Detroit,

01:01:04.160 --> 01:01:05.560
I'm Priya Mann, "Local 4."

01:01:05.560 --> 01:01:06.393
- And Priya,

01:01:06.393 --> 01:01:08.140
what an important learning experience

01:01:08.140 --> 01:01:10.920
for the young journalists
at that school paper.

01:01:10.920 --> 01:01:11.940
Do you know whether or not

01:01:11.940 --> 01:01:13.783
they'll be there in court tomorrow?

01:01:14.870 --> 01:01:16.520
- Well, that's what the family is hoping.

01:01:16.520 --> 01:01:18.360
That high school is Community High School.

01:01:18.360 --> 01:01:19.580
That's where the teen goes to.

01:01:19.580 --> 01:01:21.330
And these kids worked really hard.

01:01:21.330 --> 01:01:22.740
Officials saying they're really proud

01:01:22.740 --> 01:01:24.170
of these budding journalists.

01:01:24.170 --> 01:01:26.600
That first article really started to see

01:01:26.600 --> 01:01:30.110
that support that you're starting
to see from top officials.

01:01:30.110 --> 01:01:31.560
- [Kimberly] Real life
learning experience.

01:01:31.560 --> 01:01:32.773
Okay Priya, thank you.

01:01:33.983 --> 01:01:36.133
- What are you feeling
going up to Tuesday?

01:01:37.710 --> 01:01:40.493
- Scared. Nervous.

01:01:40.493 --> 01:01:45.493
I'm like so glad that I
told Quinn and Marci first,

01:01:45.580 --> 01:01:48.420
because it's like the support

01:01:48.420 --> 01:01:51.200
I've gotten from this is so much.

01:01:51.200 --> 01:01:52.570
It's really, really amazing

01:01:52.570 --> 01:01:55.843
to have a big support system like that.

01:01:55.843 --> 01:01:58.593
(soothing music)

01:02:01.290 --> 01:02:03.140
- Quinn and I are about to head

01:02:03.140 --> 01:02:05.700
to the federal building in Detroit

01:02:05.700 --> 01:02:08.870
to be called as witnesses
for a deportation hearing

01:02:08.870 --> 01:02:12.610
for a father of one of our students.

01:02:12.610 --> 01:02:14.487
And he is a member of our community

01:02:14.487 --> 01:02:17.370
and we will do whatever
it takes to keep him here.

01:02:17.370 --> 01:02:20.754
He's an outstanding
citizen, incredible family.

01:02:20.754 --> 01:02:21.587
- I feel-

01:02:21.587 --> 01:02:22.420
- I'm feeling...

01:02:22.420 --> 01:02:23.253
I think we're both feeling optimistic,

01:02:23.253 --> 01:02:27.533
but we're just feeling
I don't know...hold on.

01:02:29.200 --> 01:02:31.510
I feel like we wouldn't have all of...

01:02:31.510 --> 01:02:33.350
we've got 200, 300 letters.

01:02:33.350 --> 01:02:36.588
We wouldn't have if we hadn't
gone public and everything,

01:02:36.588 --> 01:02:40.232
but I'm still feeling responsible
'cause I know the family.

01:02:40.232 --> 01:02:42.500
I think the scariest moment
was yesterday when Channel 4

01:02:42.500 --> 01:02:43.618
was outside their house-

01:02:43.618 --> 01:02:44.451
- And they couldn't-

01:02:44.451 --> 01:02:46.730
- And feeling like they couldn't go home

01:02:46.730 --> 01:02:47.820
and that's like kind of

01:02:47.820 --> 01:02:51.750
maybe I helped them be in that situation.

01:02:51.750 --> 01:02:55.982
But if they win, then dad comes home.

01:02:55.982 --> 01:02:58.149
( ♪ trumpet ♪ )

01:03:00.480 --> 01:03:05.480
- So we're on our way to Yousef
Ajin's final merit hearing.

01:03:07.220 --> 01:03:11.150
And there's gonna be a rally
outside in support of him.

01:03:11.150 --> 01:03:14.110
I'm going in some ways to
support and to also to cover it

01:03:14.110 --> 01:03:15.130
for The Communicator,

01:03:15.130 --> 01:03:17.180
which is Community High
School's newspaper.

01:03:17.180 --> 01:03:20.550
This story has been
like a minefield of like

01:03:20.550 --> 01:03:22.210
ethical and moral battles

01:03:22.210 --> 01:03:25.080
that I'm still trying to figure out.

01:03:25.080 --> 01:03:26.637
There are no stories
that are black and white,

01:03:26.637 --> 01:03:28.830
but there is in this case,

01:03:28.830 --> 01:03:31.856
a family that might lose a parent.

01:03:31.856 --> 01:03:36.440
(crowd protesting indistinctly)

01:03:36.440 --> 01:03:38.590
I mean, I've always loved writing.

01:03:38.590 --> 01:03:41.330
And if this story did anything to me

01:03:41.330 --> 01:03:43.760
in terms of like a learning curve,

01:03:43.760 --> 01:03:48.080
it was that I have the power
to make people pay attention.

01:03:48.080 --> 01:03:50.840
I mean, I think that I've
made a lot of people care

01:03:50.840 --> 01:03:52.410
and that's something I
always wanna be able to do

01:03:52.410 --> 01:03:53.384
in journalism and so yeah.

01:03:53.384 --> 01:03:56.497
I do see it as a career path, I guess.

01:03:56.497 --> 01:03:58.347
I'm (indistinct). I'm always learning.

01:03:58.347 --> 01:04:00.223
So I guess that's good.

01:04:00.223 --> 01:04:02.973
(dramatic music)

01:04:15.520 --> 01:04:18.680
- To be hit with this amazing
energy from all of our kids

01:04:18.680 --> 01:04:20.490
is extraordinary not to mention

01:04:20.490 --> 01:04:22.230
seeing all the other teachers

01:04:22.230 --> 01:04:24.580
from the AAPS that have
come out to be here.

01:04:24.580 --> 01:04:25.650
It's been pretty incredible.

01:04:25.650 --> 01:04:28.470
So I'm the technical director at Community

01:04:28.470 --> 01:04:32.410
and in the theater program and
Betoul is one of my students.

01:04:32.410 --> 01:04:34.220
She's been a crew member
since freshman year

01:04:34.220 --> 01:04:36.770
and moved into a leadership position.

01:04:36.770 --> 01:04:38.550
So as of yesterday,

01:04:38.550 --> 01:04:41.430
she was at school being a leader.

01:04:41.430 --> 01:04:43.380
So she's one of my kids.

01:04:43.380 --> 01:04:45.170
- I'm doing my spot right now.

01:04:45.170 --> 01:04:48.153
I had one cue so far.
I have three more left.

01:04:49.190 --> 01:04:52.120
It's not that much, but
it's going really good.

01:04:52.120 --> 01:04:54.973
We just finished intermission,
it's about two minutes

01:04:54.973 --> 01:04:57.473
and we're gonna right back in.

01:04:58.981 --> 01:05:01.482
- Where do they think they are,

01:05:01.482 --> 01:05:03.149
in Moscow, in Paris?

01:05:04.314 --> 01:05:07.314
Where do you think you are, America?

01:05:08.920 --> 01:05:11.395
The show is historical
fiction with like people

01:05:11.395 --> 01:05:13.680
that probably definitely existed,

01:05:13.680 --> 01:05:15.280
but not people that like...

01:05:16.760 --> 01:05:17.593
That were like real.

01:05:17.593 --> 01:05:19.100
Tevye wasn't actually a person,

01:05:19.100 --> 01:05:20.500
but like there was probably a milk man

01:05:20.500 --> 01:05:22.000
with five daughters somewhere.

01:05:22.000 --> 01:05:25.410
There's definitely a person there,

01:05:25.410 --> 01:05:26.760
not just a character.

01:05:26.760 --> 01:05:27.900
Quinn was talking about it a lot,

01:05:27.900 --> 01:05:28.930
where there's a lot of things

01:05:28.930 --> 01:05:31.080
going on in the country that definitely...

01:05:31.080 --> 01:05:32.690
it's very relevant to have a family

01:05:32.690 --> 01:05:34.060
that's been living there for years

01:05:34.060 --> 01:05:35.640
just to be kicked out of somewhere

01:05:35.640 --> 01:05:39.170
or people that are prejudice
towards some people.

01:05:39.170 --> 01:05:40.940
Tevye doesn't look like me really.

01:05:40.940 --> 01:05:43.360
You realize Tevye can be really anybody.

01:05:43.360 --> 01:05:44.580
It really kind of opens your eyes like,

01:05:44.580 --> 01:05:47.603
oh wait, 'cause Tevye
could be really like,

01:05:48.700 --> 01:05:50.590
honestly, anybody like you could think of.

01:05:50.590 --> 01:05:53.590
It's just all about the
circumstances that he's put through.

01:05:54.427 --> 01:05:56.339
- [Protestors] Freedom for Yousef.

01:05:56.339 --> 01:05:58.516
Freedom for Yousef.

01:05:58.516 --> 01:06:00.572
Freedom for Yousef.

01:06:00.572 --> 01:06:02.830
Freedom for Yousef.

01:06:02.830 --> 01:06:04.240
- I know Betoul a little bit,

01:06:04.240 --> 01:06:06.320
from especially last year.

01:06:06.320 --> 01:06:08.120
I worked on "Just Desserts" with her.

01:06:10.290 --> 01:06:13.980
And I mean, it's true for
all immigrants right now,

01:06:13.980 --> 01:06:15.680
who are being...

01:06:15.680 --> 01:06:16.630
detained unfairly

01:06:16.630 --> 01:06:19.270
but especially for Yousef
who's in our community,

01:06:19.270 --> 01:06:21.050
like his family,

01:06:21.050 --> 01:06:25.460
I don't know how they
can function without him

01:06:25.460 --> 01:06:26.293
in the long-term.

01:06:26.293 --> 01:06:27.950
So I don't know.

01:06:27.950 --> 01:06:30.399
I guess that's why I'm out here.

01:06:30.399 --> 01:06:33.732
(indistinct chattering)

01:06:38.016 --> 01:06:41.933
(crowd screaming and shouting)

01:06:46.090 --> 01:06:47.377
- I'm like, so, so, so happy.

01:06:50.184 --> 01:06:51.830
- You're the daughter, right?

01:06:51.830 --> 01:06:52.711
- Yeah.

01:06:52.711 --> 01:06:54.263
- [Woman Reporter] What was
it like when you found out?

01:06:54.263 --> 01:06:56.750
- When we heard the clapping from inside

01:06:56.750 --> 01:06:59.367
and then we just knew that
he was gonna come home

01:06:59.367 --> 01:07:00.820
and my mom came out crying

01:07:00.820 --> 01:07:03.990
and it was just like
the best feeling ever.

01:07:03.990 --> 01:07:07.290
If my dad were to leave, it
would change my whole life.

01:07:07.290 --> 01:07:09.398
My brother's disabled...and

01:07:09.398 --> 01:07:14.032
it's just the best feeling he
can have his dad home again.

01:07:14.032 --> 01:07:17.865
(crowd cheering and clapping)

01:07:26.416 --> 01:07:27.761
- Responsible for the whole story.

01:07:27.761 --> 01:07:28.594
- Really.

01:07:28.594 --> 01:07:29.427
- Yeah.

01:07:29.427 --> 01:07:31.370
- Oh good, good, good. Excellent.

01:07:31.370 --> 01:07:32.460
- Thank you.

01:07:32.460 --> 01:07:35.380
He's been granted a waiver
and later in my article,

01:07:35.380 --> 01:07:37.163
I'll explain more what the waiver is.

01:07:38.020 --> 01:07:39.620
You can also include that
the department of justice

01:07:39.620 --> 01:07:41.043
has no intent on appealing.

01:07:42.550 --> 01:07:44.547
Does that all make sense?

01:07:44.547 --> 01:07:46.591
(chuckles)

01:07:46.591 --> 01:07:47.424
- [Woman] Chelsea.

01:07:47.424 --> 01:07:48.710
- [Chelsea] Hello.

01:07:48.710 --> 01:07:49.920
- [Woman] Phoebe is here.

01:07:49.920 --> 01:07:51.270
Lindsey.
- [Lindsey] Here.

01:07:52.313 --> 01:07:53.630
- [ Woman] Betoul?
- [Betoul] Here.

01:07:53.630 --> 01:07:55.021
- [Woman] Alison?
- [Alison] Here.

01:07:55.021 --> 01:07:56.130
- [Woman] Ahmad?

01:07:56.130 --> 01:07:56.963
- Hey folks,

01:07:56.963 --> 01:07:59.150
a lot of work to do, but I
need to say a few things.

01:07:59.150 --> 01:08:01.880
This is gonna be sad. It always is.

01:08:01.880 --> 01:08:03.930
But one of the beautiful
things about theater,

01:08:03.930 --> 01:08:05.470
if you do it enough,

01:08:05.470 --> 01:08:08.730
is that you are reminded
that it's not just one show.

01:08:08.730 --> 01:08:12.390
And that when you take
something down, it's not an end.

01:08:12.390 --> 01:08:14.670
It's just cleaning up to create room

01:08:14.670 --> 01:08:17.443
for another extraordinary experience.

01:08:18.310 --> 01:08:22.210
I feel lucky to direct shows here

01:08:22.210 --> 01:08:24.640
and to teach at a school that recognizes

01:08:24.640 --> 01:08:28.240
that school is not just
preparation for something else,

01:08:28.240 --> 01:08:32.560
it's not just preparation
for life, it is life.

01:08:32.560 --> 01:08:36.160
And if we work together,
life can be extraordinary,

01:08:36.160 --> 01:08:37.680
school can be extraordinary.

01:08:37.680 --> 01:08:39.630
And I feel so lucky to have been a part

01:08:39.630 --> 01:08:41.030
of this extraordinary experience,

01:08:41.030 --> 01:08:44.210
including today's work
and then making room

01:08:44.210 --> 01:08:47.120
for more extraordinary
experiences in all of your lives.

01:08:47.120 --> 01:08:48.025
So give it up for yourself.

01:08:48.025 --> 01:08:52.333
(crowd cheering and clapping)

01:08:52.333 --> 01:08:55.645
(indistinct chattering)

01:08:55.645 --> 01:08:58.850
- It's the day after the final show.

01:08:58.850 --> 01:09:00.303
And we usually do strike,

01:09:01.150 --> 01:09:03.700
which is where we take everything apart

01:09:03.700 --> 01:09:08.693
and make our theater look
like a boring space again.

01:09:10.240 --> 01:09:13.170
I've always loved CET
since my freshman year.

01:09:13.170 --> 01:09:15.133
It's just like a...really great...

01:09:17.954 --> 01:09:20.871
(trolley dragging)

01:09:27.190 --> 01:09:30.843
It's a really good stress
reliever. I think it's really fun.

01:09:34.700 --> 01:09:35.750
But it's like all back to normal.

01:09:35.750 --> 01:09:38.450
My dad back at work. It's all normal.

01:09:38.450 --> 01:09:39.790
I mean like the first couple of days,

01:09:39.790 --> 01:09:40.740
were like really weird.

01:09:40.740 --> 01:09:43.330
'cause like people were
visiting our house and stuff.

01:09:43.330 --> 01:09:46.410
I mean, I feel really affected
by it 'cause it was like,

01:09:46.410 --> 01:09:48.040
I never thought that
was gonna happen to me

01:09:48.040 --> 01:09:49.020
and then it did.

01:09:49.020 --> 01:09:53.070
So it kind of changed my whole
outlook, on kind of the world

01:09:53.070 --> 01:09:54.810
and that people were helping and stuff.

01:09:54.810 --> 01:09:57.610
But it's just, I guess all normal again.

01:09:57.610 --> 01:09:58.657
Which is good.

01:10:01.591 --> 01:10:04.341
(screen buzzing)

01:10:05.230 --> 01:10:06.083
- Good job.

01:10:07.080 --> 01:10:09.060
Now to our roving reporter, Tim

01:10:09.060 --> 01:10:11.990
with a live mini cam report
at Community High School

01:10:11.990 --> 01:10:15.270
with a politically concerned
high school student,

01:10:15.270 --> 01:10:16.320
David Morris.

01:10:16.320 --> 01:10:17.433
Now to you, Tim.

01:10:18.310 --> 01:10:20.710
- Do you think this letter
will accomplish much?

01:10:22.507 --> 01:10:25.430
- Not immediately, but
I think in the long run,

01:10:25.430 --> 01:10:26.980
I think especially since
this is a high school,

01:10:26.980 --> 01:10:28.686
a whole high school students,

01:10:28.686 --> 01:10:30.810
and these are the people
who are gonna be voting

01:10:30.810 --> 01:10:33.370
and making the decisions in a few years.

01:10:33.370 --> 01:10:34.450
This is the future generation.

01:10:34.450 --> 01:10:37.980
I think that if enough
action like this is taken

01:10:37.980 --> 01:10:39.770
that the government officials

01:10:39.770 --> 01:10:41.880
will be forced to listen to it.

01:10:41.880 --> 01:10:44.660
- Let's find out what
some other people think.

01:10:44.660 --> 01:10:45.493
- It's interesting.

01:10:45.493 --> 01:10:47.680
Whenever you get an older former student

01:10:47.680 --> 01:10:49.610
or a teacher who's been here
as long as I've been here,

01:10:49.610 --> 01:10:51.680
kids wanna hear the real dirt.

01:10:51.680 --> 01:10:53.600
They wanna hear the juicy gossip.

01:10:53.600 --> 01:10:55.210
So what was the juiciest gossip

01:10:55.210 --> 01:10:57.430
that you remember in your day?

01:10:57.430 --> 01:10:59.790
- There was some talk
about teachers and students

01:10:59.790 --> 01:11:04.390
having romantic relationships.

01:11:04.390 --> 01:11:06.100
Teachers buying drugs from students.

01:11:06.100 --> 01:11:07.056
- Oh my God.

01:11:07.056 --> 01:11:08.056
(indistinct chattering)

01:11:08.056 --> 01:11:09.080
- [Student 1] Yeah.

01:11:09.080 --> 01:11:12.360
- Let's see...teachers
smoking pot with students,

01:11:12.360 --> 01:11:15.320
teachers having sexual
relationships with students.

01:11:15.320 --> 01:11:17.990
- Those were the kind of stereotypes

01:11:17.990 --> 01:11:20.260
that we had to put up with at Community

01:11:20.260 --> 01:11:21.740
for as long as I've been here.

01:11:21.740 --> 01:11:24.140
And it sort of breaks my heart

01:11:24.140 --> 01:11:25.890
because I don't think if there...

01:11:25.890 --> 01:11:27.850
there's gotta be truth
to something one time.

01:11:27.850 --> 01:11:29.900
Everybody's...something
has to happen once.

01:11:29.900 --> 01:11:32.160
But the thought that this
would be a stereotype

01:11:32.160 --> 01:11:35.360
about Community was never okay for me.

01:11:35.360 --> 01:11:37.500
- And maybe it was a little
hold out from the '70s

01:11:37.500 --> 01:11:41.380
and kind of like sexual
revolution type stuff

01:11:41.380 --> 01:11:44.210
that perhaps there might've been

01:11:44.210 --> 01:11:46.680
a little more relaxed attitude

01:11:46.680 --> 01:11:51.230
towards informal interactions
between students and teachers.

01:11:51.230 --> 01:11:52.700
- And going over to people's houses.

01:11:52.700 --> 01:11:54.290
Like you wouldn't have
gone over a teacher's house

01:11:54.290 --> 01:11:55.690
in most schools.

01:11:55.690 --> 01:11:56.523
- No.

01:11:56.523 --> 01:11:57.356
- That would have been unusual.

01:11:57.356 --> 01:11:58.189
No...

01:11:58.189 --> 01:11:59.022
- Anybody who you came to Community,

01:11:59.022 --> 01:12:01.330
came out of a traditional system.

01:12:01.330 --> 01:12:04.590
Some teachers would
like get very defensive,

01:12:04.590 --> 01:12:05.472
like wait a second,

01:12:05.472 --> 01:12:06.870
we're are the teachers.

01:12:06.870 --> 01:12:08.750
Now let's not...you're getting...

01:12:08.750 --> 01:12:10.830
Y our dimming the lines here.

01:12:10.830 --> 01:12:14.143
And yet conceptually those lines
were supposed to be dimmed.

01:12:16.160 --> 01:12:19.440
But the reality of that was
very hard on a lot of people,

01:12:19.440 --> 01:12:20.970
kids included.

01:12:20.970 --> 01:12:22.350
- The dark side of Community High

01:12:22.350 --> 01:12:26.983
was people probably doing too many drugs.

01:12:28.090 --> 01:12:30.713
We had very poor sexual boundaries.

01:12:31.700 --> 01:12:34.120
- We haven't talked about teachers

01:12:34.120 --> 01:12:36.140
having affairs with students.

01:12:36.140 --> 01:12:39.790
That was pretty rampant too,
for the first four years.

01:12:39.790 --> 01:12:41.380
You're caught up in that moment.

01:12:41.380 --> 01:12:44.804
You don't realize that
maybe that could be harmful.

01:12:44.804 --> 01:12:47.370
- Because we took down so many structures.

01:12:47.370 --> 01:12:49.170
Yes, people were exploring

01:12:49.170 --> 01:12:52.173
and didn't realize the
consequences of what was happening.

01:12:53.120 --> 01:12:54.633
And some of it's very painful.

01:12:56.682 --> 01:13:01.682
- The school came out of that
end of the '60s sort of thing

01:13:03.180 --> 01:13:06.340
that said, okay, we'll
get rid of all rules

01:13:06.340 --> 01:13:07.790
and kind of start fresh.

01:13:07.790 --> 01:13:09.900
And then it just takes time to figure out

01:13:09.900 --> 01:13:12.260
what are the rules that are important

01:13:12.260 --> 01:13:14.880
and what are the rules
that are unimportant.

01:13:14.880 --> 01:13:17.100
- Water seeks the path
of least resistance.

01:13:17.100 --> 01:13:18.410
And so when you're a teenager,

01:13:18.410 --> 01:13:21.490
the path of least resistance
is just fine with you.

01:13:21.490 --> 01:13:24.300
It was just do whatever you wanted to do.

01:13:24.300 --> 01:13:26.850
We'd show up at school.
Did we go to class today?

01:13:26.850 --> 01:13:28.530
I don't know.

01:13:28.530 --> 01:13:30.160
- Well, freedom by itself

01:13:30.160 --> 01:13:31.330
can certainly be a dangerous thing.

01:13:31.330 --> 01:13:34.351
But I think that we
were also more empowered

01:13:34.351 --> 01:13:39.351
and we were kind of awkward
in knowing how to use that.

01:13:41.590 --> 01:13:44.754
- So over time I think
the school board said,

01:13:44.754 --> 01:13:47.890
even though we don't really
wanna get involved with them,

01:13:47.890 --> 01:13:48.940
it is a public school.

01:13:48.940 --> 01:13:52.260
So we better start making sure
they're following the rules.

01:13:52.260 --> 01:13:55.070
- If you guys have to leave
'cause it's 2:30, that's fine.

01:13:55.070 --> 01:13:56.160
Kelly, thank you so much.

01:13:56.160 --> 01:13:59.700
If anybody wants to stay,
please feel free to stay.

01:13:59.700 --> 01:14:00.533
- [Kelly] Good meeting you all.

01:14:00.533 --> 01:14:01.574
- You have to go.
- Yep.

01:14:01.574 --> 01:14:02.407
(indistinct)

01:14:02.407 --> 01:14:03.240
- [Student 1] Bye.

01:14:03.240 --> 01:14:04.184
- [Student 2] Bye Judith.

01:14:04.184 --> 01:14:05.310
(indistinct)

01:14:05.310 --> 01:14:06.710
- [Student 3] Thanks
Judith. Nice to meet you.

01:14:08.213 --> 01:14:09.140
- It's so amazing.

01:14:09.140 --> 01:14:10.630
- Isn't your daughter coming here.

01:14:10.630 --> 01:14:11.570
- My daughter is coming here.

01:14:11.570 --> 01:14:12.403
- Are you excited?

01:14:12.403 --> 01:14:13.440
- I'm so excited.

01:14:13.440 --> 01:14:14.273
- Is she?

01:14:14.273 --> 01:14:16.330
- Yes, she's really different than me,

01:14:16.330 --> 01:14:18.860
but I hope she gets you.

01:14:18.860 --> 01:14:20.260
- So that means I have four more years.

01:14:20.260 --> 01:14:21.530
Is that what you're telling me?

01:14:21.530 --> 01:14:22.390
- Maybe just one,

01:14:22.390 --> 01:14:24.727
if she can make it into
your class next year.

01:14:24.727 --> 01:14:25.669
(chuckles)

01:14:25.669 --> 01:14:29.030
My concern was when it became so popular

01:14:29.030 --> 01:14:33.210
and the lottery became
such an intense thing.

01:14:33.210 --> 01:14:34.640
- You thought we just
have the top students.

01:14:34.640 --> 01:14:36.630
- I was afraid that-
- Oh my God, never.

01:14:36.630 --> 01:14:38.920
- The students would end up being

01:14:38.920 --> 01:14:41.430
more kind of a prep school.

01:14:41.430 --> 01:14:42.263
- See, that's another-
- Student body.

01:14:42.263 --> 01:14:43.810
- That's another stereotype.

01:14:43.810 --> 01:14:47.160
And the stereotype was,
you're an elitist institution.

01:14:47.160 --> 01:14:49.730
You only teach the children of academics.

01:14:49.730 --> 01:14:53.780
We have always had the whole bell curve.

01:14:53.780 --> 01:14:56.330
But when you saw that it got very popular.

01:14:56.330 --> 01:14:58.560
That wasn't just because
really strong students

01:14:58.560 --> 01:14:59.460
wanted to be here.

01:14:59.460 --> 01:15:02.020
There were parents of
really disturbed students

01:15:02.020 --> 01:15:03.180
who wanted their kids here

01:15:03.180 --> 01:15:04.860
because they knew we were more loving

01:15:04.860 --> 01:15:06.940
and they, well, I shouldn't
say that, but we are,

01:15:06.940 --> 01:15:08.470
or maybe we're not, but I think we are.

01:15:08.470 --> 01:15:09.800
And we're small...

01:15:09.800 --> 01:15:12.260
It's a loving, sweet, supportive culture.

01:15:12.260 --> 01:15:13.320
- Right, being at a place

01:15:13.320 --> 01:15:15.430
where you're not gonna
fall through the cracks

01:15:15.430 --> 01:15:16.263
is really important.

01:15:16.263 --> 01:15:18.840
- There are kids who really
try to fall through the cracks.

01:15:18.840 --> 01:15:20.530
There are kids who will do anything

01:15:20.530 --> 01:15:21.860
to fall through the cracks.

01:15:21.860 --> 01:15:23.790
And so we're holding on
pulling them out of the cracks.

01:15:23.790 --> 01:15:25.850
- Oh, happy to see you. And you know what?

01:15:25.850 --> 01:15:27.860
We'll be in touch. We'll talk about...

01:15:29.370 --> 01:15:34.370
- Quinn has been nominated and
has won teacher of the year

01:15:34.400 --> 01:15:37.070
in the Ypsilanti/Arbor
Chamber of Commerce.

01:15:37.070 --> 01:15:41.829
It's a joint group and he
doesn't even know he's nominated.

01:15:41.829 --> 01:15:43.820
Okay. He's in Marci's office.

01:15:43.820 --> 01:15:45.810
Okay everyone.

01:15:45.810 --> 01:15:47.850
Okay, we're gonna go
up to the theater now,

01:15:47.850 --> 01:15:48.683
and when we're all in there,

01:15:48.683 --> 01:15:49.590
I'll text her and she'll find some reason

01:15:49.590 --> 01:15:53.161
to scare him to bring him in. Okay.

01:15:53.161 --> 01:15:56.494
(indistinct chattering)

01:16:05.740 --> 01:16:06.640
- He's on his way.

01:16:13.030 --> 01:16:14.147
- [Clarence] It's not him.

01:16:14.147 --> 01:16:17.647
(chattering indistinctly)

01:16:20.757 --> 01:16:23.824
- [Crowd] Surprise.

01:16:23.824 --> 01:16:27.657
(crowd cheering and clapping)

01:16:43.730 --> 01:16:45.694
- So Quinn does not know why he's here.

01:16:45.694 --> 01:16:47.620
(laughing)

01:16:47.620 --> 01:16:49.530
- Those of us who are
standing up here we represent

01:16:49.530 --> 01:16:51.407
the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti
Regional Chamber Commerce.

01:16:51.407 --> 01:16:53.480
And you have been nominated

01:16:53.480 --> 01:16:55.900
for the first ever
Teacher of the Year Award.

01:16:55.900 --> 01:16:56.733
- Oh my gosh.

01:16:56.733 --> 01:16:57.995
- And you've have won the
Teacher of the Year Award.

01:16:57.995 --> 01:16:58.982
- Oh my gosh.

01:16:58.982 --> 01:17:02.815
(crowd cheering and clapping)

01:17:06.917 --> 01:17:07.883
oh, wow.

01:17:07.883 --> 01:17:09.490
(crowd laughing)

01:17:09.490 --> 01:17:14.320
I'm so unbelievably
thankful and overwhelmed.

01:17:14.320 --> 01:17:17.055
And this has been a tough year, you know?

01:17:17.055 --> 01:17:20.840
And it's been an amazing year.

01:17:20.840 --> 01:17:22.310
It's been both.

01:17:22.310 --> 01:17:25.750
And I love you all.
Just thank you so much.

01:17:25.750 --> 01:17:27.241
I love you all. I can't believe this.

01:17:27.241 --> 01:17:28.846
This is incredible.

01:17:28.846 --> 01:17:31.439
(crowd cheering and clapping)

01:17:31.439 --> 01:17:35.022
- Get in there. Get in
there. Get in there.

01:17:36.626 --> 01:17:39.959
(indistinct chattering)

01:17:43.585 --> 01:17:44.506
- I'm so happy.

01:17:44.506 --> 01:17:45.956
I'm so happy. He deserves it.

01:17:47.192 --> 01:17:48.380
I think he does.

01:17:48.380 --> 01:17:49.430
I'm gonna go see him.

01:17:50.315 --> 01:17:53.648
(indistinct chattering)

01:17:56.530 --> 01:17:57.917
- Hi guys, we're just out here, you know

01:17:57.917 --> 01:18:00.480
having fun, doing the tug of
war and these guys are out here

01:18:00.480 --> 01:18:01.313
chilling...

01:18:01.313 --> 01:18:02.230
- [Interviewer] What's field day?

01:18:02.230 --> 01:18:04.360
- Field day is the time for all the kids

01:18:04.360 --> 01:18:07.120
to get out and get to know each
other and have fun together.

01:18:07.120 --> 01:18:09.750
And this is the way for them to have fun.

01:18:09.750 --> 01:18:12.077
Remember each other at
the end of the year.

01:18:12.077 --> 01:18:13.610
And you can, "Hey, I remember that guy

01:18:13.610 --> 01:18:14.802
I was in the tug of war with.

01:18:14.802 --> 01:18:16.656
Me and him are really good friends now."

01:18:16.656 --> 01:18:18.645
That's all it's all about.

01:18:18.645 --> 01:18:19.677
- [Howard] This is Howard Cosell

01:18:19.677 --> 01:18:22.440
live from Delhi Park in Ann Arbor.

01:18:22.440 --> 01:18:26.250
Ready to bring you the
Community High tug of war final.

01:18:26.250 --> 01:18:28.160
Here we go. It start off and.

01:18:28.160 --> 01:18:29.920
Headley's got a quick lead.

01:18:29.920 --> 01:18:32.380
Coming back, Mouradian's
recovering nicely.

01:18:32.380 --> 01:18:33.551
Now they're falling behind

01:18:33.551 --> 01:18:38.551
and (indistinct) that's it!
Headley takes the championship.

01:18:39.797 --> 01:18:44.559
Headley takes the championship.
Let's get some Headley...

01:18:44.559 --> 01:18:46.976
(indistinct)

01:18:51.310 --> 01:18:53.020
(students shouting)

01:18:53.020 --> 01:18:56.350
- This is the Community
High School tug of war.

01:18:56.350 --> 01:19:00.960
This is basically the
Olympic event for our school.

01:19:00.960 --> 01:19:05.960
It is a Forum competition that
we train for all year long.

01:19:08.144 --> 01:19:12.252
We don't have a lot of sports
in our school. This is it.

01:19:12.252 --> 01:19:15.252
(students shouting)

01:19:23.620 --> 01:19:26.430
- After the mile run,
it's food, playing around

01:19:26.430 --> 01:19:28.100
and then-

01:19:28.100 --> 01:19:30.440
- The fun games, three legged race,

01:19:30.440 --> 01:19:32.073
sack race, wheelbarrow race.

01:19:33.180 --> 01:19:36.020
(indistinct chattering)

01:19:36.020 --> 01:19:38.237
- That's what I'm taking about.

01:19:39.494 --> 01:19:41.911
(indistinct)

01:20:09.009 --> 01:20:11.130
- Ed, let's load up the buses.

01:20:11.130 --> 01:20:12.323
Let's go guys.

01:20:13.720 --> 01:20:14.553
There we go.

01:20:15.688 --> 01:20:19.021
(indistinct chattering)

01:20:20.210 --> 01:20:22.750
- So this is the Communicator
Banquet End of year.

01:20:22.750 --> 01:20:24.680
We've been doing it for a couple of years,

01:20:24.680 --> 01:20:27.570
it's a great time to
come together, celebrate.

01:20:27.570 --> 01:20:30.230
I speak a little bit,
seniors speak a little bit

01:20:30.230 --> 01:20:31.900
and just celebrate the year.

01:20:31.900 --> 01:20:34.140
So and the amazing, amazing, amazing work

01:20:34.140 --> 01:20:35.490
that the students have done.

01:20:35.490 --> 01:20:37.790
- We got all these pictures of not all,

01:20:37.790 --> 01:20:41.930
but most of the seniors, like
the graduating class of 2017.

01:20:41.930 --> 01:20:43.530
We were able to just like capture

01:20:43.530 --> 01:20:46.130
a lot of their stories about Community.

01:20:46.130 --> 01:20:50.330
Like we did these profiles on 12 seniors.

01:20:50.330 --> 01:20:52.520
So it really felt like
we were able to capture

01:20:52.520 --> 01:20:55.210
a lot of the class of
2017 before they left.

01:20:55.210 --> 01:20:57.720
- That there are very few 15-year olds

01:20:57.720 --> 01:20:59.502
and 16-year olds and 17-year olds

01:20:59.502 --> 01:21:01.810
who are diving as deep into journalism

01:21:01.810 --> 01:21:06.610
and telling as serious of
stories as these guys are.

01:21:06.610 --> 01:21:09.420
Really timely about immigration,

01:21:09.420 --> 01:21:13.150
about homelessness, about drug addiction

01:21:13.150 --> 01:21:15.510
that they...about sexuality.

01:21:15.510 --> 01:21:19.351
They take on big issues in deep ways.

01:21:19.351 --> 01:21:20.330
- So what we're gonna do is

01:21:20.330 --> 01:21:22.860
we're gonna hear from some seniors.

01:21:22.860 --> 01:21:27.060
So seniors speeches are always
a big part of our banquet.

01:21:27.060 --> 01:21:28.920
And then I'll give some closing words

01:21:28.920 --> 01:21:30.920
and then you guys can
finish the rest of the cake.

01:21:30.920 --> 01:21:34.113
And as soon as the cake
is gone, you can leave.

01:21:34.113 --> 01:21:36.166
(crowd laughing)

01:21:36.166 --> 01:21:37.810
- The truth is that this year

01:21:37.810 --> 01:21:38.840
you offered me the greatest

01:21:38.840 --> 01:21:40.360
and most challenging learning experience

01:21:40.360 --> 01:21:42.450
I've ever had the opportunity to face.

01:21:42.450 --> 01:21:44.620
You asked me to understand
somebody's story.

01:21:44.620 --> 01:21:47.250
Somebody far removed from
my own lived experience

01:21:47.250 --> 01:21:49.010
and tell it to the world.

01:21:49.010 --> 01:21:51.710
Writing about Yousef and his
family only further instilled

01:21:51.710 --> 01:21:52.890
an idea that you said to me

01:21:52.890 --> 01:21:55.460
on my first ever day in Communicator.

01:21:55.460 --> 01:21:56.690
"Your voice matters.

01:21:56.690 --> 01:21:57.930
The stories you tell matter.

01:21:57.930 --> 01:22:00.410
And the people you write
about matter even more."

01:22:00.410 --> 01:22:01.243
I'm reminded of this

01:22:01.243 --> 01:22:02.990
every time you say those
words to a freshmen

01:22:02.990 --> 01:22:05.880
looking for a voice or to a
senior questioning theirs.

01:22:05.880 --> 01:22:07.760
I hope you never stop
repeating them Tracy,

01:22:07.760 --> 01:22:09.724
it's nice to be reminded.

01:22:09.724 --> 01:22:12.474
(crowd clapping)

01:22:14.660 --> 01:22:17.993
(indistinct chattering)

01:22:28.484 --> 01:22:32.317
(crowd clapping and cheering)

01:22:47.700 --> 01:22:50.350
- About five years ago, when
I was thinking about retiring,

01:22:50.350 --> 01:22:51.183
I said to myself,

01:22:51.183 --> 01:22:53.170
Judith just don't fall in
love with this new batch.

01:22:53.170 --> 01:22:54.400
Just don't fall in love with them.

01:22:54.400 --> 01:22:55.970
There'll just be a few kids

01:22:55.970 --> 01:22:57.640
that you'll know for a year or so.

01:22:57.640 --> 01:23:00.950
And I sorta kept it together
for about 20 minutes

01:23:00.950 --> 01:23:02.400
and then it was all over.

01:23:02.400 --> 01:23:04.030
And then I watched that group.

01:23:04.030 --> 01:23:06.690
They graduated maybe last
year or the year before.

01:23:06.690 --> 01:23:07.700
I don't remember.

01:23:07.700 --> 01:23:09.410
It's wonderful to watch these kids grow up

01:23:09.410 --> 01:23:11.490
and be on stage with them at graduation.

01:23:11.490 --> 01:23:14.470
I think that's another
measure about the family.

01:23:14.470 --> 01:23:17.000
When you hear kids talk at graduation,

01:23:17.000 --> 01:23:18.810
about how much they
love their Forum leader

01:23:18.810 --> 01:23:23.320
or their school or the class
itself, that tells you a lot,

01:23:23.320 --> 01:23:25.990
there's something really
special about those kids

01:23:25.990 --> 01:23:28.090
and their 30 second moments

01:23:28.090 --> 01:23:31.482
talking about how much
they've loved this four years.

01:23:31.482 --> 01:23:34.820
(crowd clapping)

01:23:34.820 --> 01:23:37.780
- I'd just like to thank
my friends, my family,

01:23:37.780 --> 01:23:38.870
my teachers for supporting me.

01:23:38.870 --> 01:23:40.460
I don't think I'd be standing on the stage

01:23:40.460 --> 01:23:41.293
without any of you.

01:23:41.293 --> 01:23:43.920
- So it's really impossible
for me to put my experience

01:23:43.920 --> 01:23:46.350
at Community into any correct words,

01:23:46.350 --> 01:23:48.120
let alone 30 seconds of them.

01:23:48.120 --> 01:23:49.910
- All the awesome friends and classmates

01:23:49.910 --> 01:23:51.980
I've gotten to know over the years,

01:23:51.980 --> 01:23:53.780
all the amazing teachers I've had,

01:23:53.780 --> 01:23:54.920
you especially Judith.

01:23:54.920 --> 01:23:56.180
- Staying there for four years

01:23:56.180 --> 01:23:59.190
has been one of the best
decisions I've ever made.

01:23:59.190 --> 01:24:01.560
If not for its supportive
and flexible environment,

01:24:01.560 --> 01:24:04.120
I wouldn't have been able
to grow as much as I have.

01:24:04.120 --> 01:24:06.040
- And the last thing I wanna mention

01:24:06.040 --> 01:24:07.850
is that I had a reputation in the school

01:24:07.850 --> 01:24:09.559
for always wearing a hat today.

01:24:09.559 --> 01:24:12.571
Today, that hat comes off.

01:24:12.571 --> 01:24:16.404
(crowd cheering and clapping)

01:24:26.296 --> 01:24:27.129
- [Announcer] Hannah Rubinstein.

01:24:27.129 --> 01:24:30.411
- I wanna start by thanking
the amazing Community teachers.

01:24:30.411 --> 01:24:32.250
They've given me so much.

01:24:32.250 --> 01:24:35.860
For example, literally gave me
life, shout out Anne Thomas.

01:24:35.860 --> 01:24:38.100
(crowd cheering)

01:24:38.100 --> 01:24:39.760
They sacrifice so much

01:24:39.760 --> 01:24:42.030
and while you might not
know it from the ceremony,

01:24:42.030 --> 01:24:44.240
since basically everyone
has thanked teachers,

01:24:44.240 --> 01:24:46.240
they are so often overlooked,

01:24:46.240 --> 01:24:48.270
but they are the reason
we are all here today.

01:24:48.270 --> 01:24:51.512
And they are the reason that
I've loved the past four years.

01:24:51.512 --> 01:24:54.262
(dramatic music)

01:25:11.000 --> 01:25:12.290
- [Anne] Some of the
teachers you have known

01:25:12.290 --> 01:25:13.200
since you were a baby.

01:25:13.200 --> 01:25:14.033
- [Hannah] Yeah.

01:25:14.033 --> 01:25:15.300
- [Anne] Judith held
her when she was a baby,

01:25:15.300 --> 01:25:16.200
you know, I mean...

01:25:16.200 --> 01:25:19.050
she really has grown up
with Community High School.

01:25:19.050 --> 01:25:20.030
This is "Hannah-Rama".

01:25:20.030 --> 01:25:21.260
- I didn't choose the name.

01:25:21.260 --> 01:25:22.780
- We...

01:25:22.780 --> 01:25:23.950
- My aunt chose the name.

01:25:23.950 --> 01:25:26.050
It's all helped us put it together.

01:25:26.050 --> 01:25:27.090
'Cause people do these things.

01:25:27.090 --> 01:25:28.399
- This is what you do...

01:25:28.399 --> 01:25:33.399
- Junior prom, senior prom
and Halloween in the hallways.

01:25:35.370 --> 01:25:37.110
I was in jazz for the
first couple of years.

01:25:37.110 --> 01:25:40.403
Yeah, I did it all. That's
Forum my freshman year.

01:25:41.650 --> 01:25:42.880
And that was Communicator

01:25:42.880 --> 01:25:45.860
when we went to the Democratic debate

01:25:45.860 --> 01:25:47.070
and that's my friend Sophia

01:25:47.070 --> 01:25:52.020
in the halls we wrote and
filmed a short film about corn.

01:25:52.020 --> 01:25:53.390
- When you have to put all this together

01:25:53.390 --> 01:25:55.170
and look at your life

01:25:55.170 --> 01:25:58.690
as just a series of photos
that makes you think back over.

01:25:58.690 --> 01:26:00.768
I am really gonna miss her.

01:26:00.768 --> 01:26:02.914
We rode to school every day.

01:26:02.914 --> 01:26:06.470
We walked into that building every day,

01:26:06.470 --> 01:26:08.390
we walked out many days

01:26:08.390 --> 01:26:12.690
and just sometimes you
ate lunch in my room,

01:26:12.690 --> 01:26:13.610
in the beginning.

01:26:13.610 --> 01:26:17.020
And then you spread your wings
and you did all your stuff.

01:26:17.020 --> 01:26:17.853
But...

01:26:17.853 --> 01:26:19.060
All right.

01:26:19.060 --> 01:26:23.050
- If we want society to have the benefits

01:26:23.050 --> 01:26:26.880
of all of the productivity
and all of the...

01:26:26.880 --> 01:26:29.750
Just the gifts that people have to offer,

01:26:29.750 --> 01:26:32.690
if we wanna make those gifts
available to everybody,

01:26:32.690 --> 01:26:34.500
all of those gifts available,

01:26:34.500 --> 01:26:37.900
we have to have schools like Community

01:26:37.900 --> 01:26:40.370
and schools different from Community

01:26:40.370 --> 01:26:43.450
so that people can fulfill themselves.

01:26:43.450 --> 01:26:45.700
- What I walked away from that school with

01:26:45.700 --> 01:26:49.470
is confidence in that I
can take care of myself.

01:26:49.470 --> 01:26:50.420
That was a big one.

01:26:55.228 --> 01:26:57.270
That who I was was basically okay.

01:26:57.270 --> 01:27:00.610
- I want people to know how rigorous

01:27:00.610 --> 01:27:04.230
and academic and caring and loving we are.

01:27:04.230 --> 01:27:07.020
Because all that goes with the cool stuff

01:27:07.020 --> 01:27:08.620
and the relationships that we build

01:27:08.620 --> 01:27:10.363
and the connections that we make.

01:27:12.340 --> 01:27:14.290
Those aren't opposing forces.

01:27:14.290 --> 01:27:17.950
You can be very, very
academic and rigorous

01:27:17.950 --> 01:27:20.580
and demanding and inspirational

01:27:20.580 --> 01:27:23.780
and be loving and compassionate
and fun and silly.

01:27:23.780 --> 01:27:26.800
They all go together. They're
all part of the same thing.

01:27:26.800 --> 01:27:28.220
- Something special about that,

01:27:28.220 --> 01:27:30.110
when you bring people together,

01:27:30.110 --> 01:27:32.920
they're all like 100% -
they on top of their game

01:27:32.920 --> 01:27:34.540
and then they can bring that to the table.

01:27:34.540 --> 01:27:37.890
And then the kids all loved
their...it was phenomenal.

01:27:37.890 --> 01:27:40.240
I mean, I don't think
I'll ever see that again.

01:27:42.150 --> 01:27:43.950
And I've been in education 30 years.

01:27:45.009 --> 01:27:46.910
I don't think I'm gonna see that again.

01:27:46.910 --> 01:27:51.150
- Upfront, when you shift from
being a large failed school,

01:27:51.150 --> 01:27:55.490
that's losing connection with
its students and families

01:27:55.490 --> 01:27:57.160
to a set of small schools,

01:27:57.160 --> 01:27:59.310
there's an investment you have to make.

01:27:59.310 --> 01:28:02.660
And my guess is if you want it to turn

01:28:02.660 --> 01:28:05.430
every high school students' experience

01:28:05.430 --> 01:28:07.210
into one like those at Community,

01:28:07.210 --> 01:28:09.630
you could do it for the
same price in a second

01:28:09.630 --> 01:28:13.500
if you're willing to
take the political risks

01:28:13.500 --> 01:28:16.263
of changing the existing structure.

01:28:17.200 --> 01:28:20.260
- The school has changed over times.

01:28:20.260 --> 01:28:23.230
And I think it's...why it's successful is,

01:28:23.230 --> 01:28:25.870
is it's changed with the times

01:28:25.870 --> 01:28:28.510
to meet the expectations of the times.

01:28:28.510 --> 01:28:30.780
A lot of those early alternative schools

01:28:30.780 --> 01:28:33.370
couldn't get past being hippie schools.

01:28:33.370 --> 01:28:36.780
And when nobody wanted
a hippie school anymore,

01:28:36.780 --> 01:28:37.880
they were out of luck.

01:28:38.933 --> 01:28:40.640
- I just have this...

01:28:42.126 --> 01:28:44.410
well the word that comes
to mind is rhapsodic,

01:28:44.410 --> 01:28:47.253
that's a little strong,
but I did teach English.

01:28:48.260 --> 01:28:52.300
Just this memory of what we were,

01:28:52.300 --> 01:28:57.110
and that we didn't do it for nothing.

01:28:57.110 --> 01:28:58.110
Because there it is.

01:28:59.300 --> 01:29:00.678
There it is.

01:29:00.678 --> 01:29:04.011
(indistinct chattering)

01:29:09.070 --> 01:29:10.320
- Look at you.

01:29:10.320 --> 01:29:12.181
Hi, good morning.

01:29:12.181 --> 01:29:14.893
- [Girl] Hi Leah.
- [Girl 2] Hi Leah.

01:29:17.027 --> 01:29:18.630
- All right. She sees her friends.

01:29:18.630 --> 01:29:21.890
So first day of high school. In my day,

01:29:21.890 --> 01:29:24.754
I don't think people showed
up quite so early for school.

01:29:24.754 --> 01:29:27.120
- I hate basketball. (indistinct)

01:29:27.120 --> 01:29:30.702
- And there were a lot more
kids smoking cigarettes.

01:29:30.702 --> 01:29:31.910
(chuckles)

01:29:31.910 --> 01:29:34.210
And I don't see any
kids smoking cigarettes

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or adults smoking
cigarettes, nobody's smoking.

01:29:37.500 --> 01:29:39.963
- Wow. Wow.

01:29:43.130 --> 01:29:44.411
- Are you ready for us?

01:29:44.411 --> 01:29:45.744
Yeah come on in.

01:29:47.281 --> 01:29:50.614
(bright dramatic music)

01:29:54.154 --> 01:29:56.445
- Welcome back and welcome
to Community everybody.

01:29:56.445 --> 01:29:58.510
(indistinct)

01:29:58.510 --> 01:30:01.187
(crowd cheering)

01:30:01.187 --> 01:30:04.410
Thank you all for all of you.

01:30:04.410 --> 01:30:05.380
Every single one of you

01:30:05.380 --> 01:30:07.300
makes this amazing place for all of us

01:30:07.300 --> 01:30:10.950
to come and spend the biggest
part of our day everyday

01:30:10.950 --> 01:30:12.300
at Community High Shool.

01:30:12.300 --> 01:30:13.450
Teachers and students, everyone

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I wanna thank you for making
this a place we all love...

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So thank you for (indistinct)

01:30:24.929 --> 01:30:27.762
(uplifting music)