tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77940033165690648112024-03-18T10:13:13.077-07:00Education Exchange CorpsOfficial Blog of the Education Exchange Corps
www.EdExCo.orgEducation Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10082290997746360001noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-45139471020758580922017-05-19T11:43:00.000-07:002017-05-19T12:30:05.477-07:00HazelwoodDear Friends,<br />
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This week, students at Hazelwood West High School walked out of classes in protest. They walked out in support of their teachers, who are in the middle of a contentious contract negotiation with the Hazelwood School District. <br />
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The school district responded by suspending many students, including many members of student leadership and several seniors. These suspensions were to be served out of school. The suspended seniors - including the class president - would be subject to arrest if they showed up to their graduation ceremony.<br />
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Our mission is to show children the power they have to lead. These students chose to lead, and I felt it was the responsibility of the Education Exchange Corps to support them.<br />
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I personally spent all day yesterday with these kids. I worked with the ACLU to make sure the students had legal representation; while the ACLU pursued legal options to rescind the suspensions, I counseled students on their options and was prepared to provide legal assistance in the event of any post-suspension arrests. But, most importantly, I was just present for them, whatever they needed.<br />
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Yesterday morning, several non-suspended students worked with Metropolitan Congregations United to stage a sit-in at the district's administrative building while their suspended colleagues held up signs on the sidewalk outside.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
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The students demanded a meeting with the superintendent. Eventually, the superintendent agreed to meet with Metropolitan Congregations United. And, after some time, the parents and students met with an assistant superintendent separately.<br />
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The suspensions were not resolved at these meetings. As the day wore on, I brought snacks and water bottles, but the teachers sent the kids their favorite food: pizza. Lots of pizza.<br />
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In the afternoon, students moved to Hazelwood West High School and protested there. Honking supports came from everywhere: School buses, families, police officers, company vans, Metro buses. In an amazing moment, teachers risked their jobs and joined their students on the sidewalk.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
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Last night, the district rescinded the suspensions. <br />
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From my conversations with these kids and seeing them in action, these young leaders were not pressured or manipulated by anyone to go protest. They chose to stand up for their teachers because they loved them. The sheer joy on those students' faces when they saw their teachers join them in protest was an amazing sight.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
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This was a student-led movement. They chose to walk out. They chose to accept the consequences listed in their handbook. They chose to protest when the punishment they were given was inconsistent with the rules. They chose to demand meetings with administrators and voice their opinions to those in power.<br />
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They chose to be leaders, and I was honored to have supported them. <br />
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Although the students are no longer suspended, they are not done. They want to create lasting change in their community, and they will continue to try to work with administrators to make sure students have a productive avenue to voice their opinions. <br />
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I spoke with these amazing kids and their phenomenal parents. As the Project Coordinator for Missouri For All, I provided them an open opportunity to have a sounding board or space to plan at any time. As the CEO of the Education Exchange Corps, I invited them to come speak with our kids this summer at our leadership academy. Some even want to volunteer with us!<br />
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We are very excited to be working and learning from these young leaders. With these kids, our future is in excellent hands.<br />
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We want to extend our thanks to Metropolitan Congregations United, the ACLU, Pastor Karen Anderson of the Ward Chapel A M E Church, the many supporters who called the school district, the media for covering this important issue, the Hazelwood community, Hazelwood teachers, Hazelwood parents, and the phenomenal students of Hazelwood.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Elad<br />
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President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/" target="_blank">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org"><br /></a>
<i>Sign up for email updates at <a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.edexco.org</a>.</i>Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-23899597660548540232017-02-07T09:54:00.001-08:002017-02-07T09:54:32.694-08:00School Profile: New City School<i>This is the second school profile in a series. I'm visiting schools in St. Louis to find ideas that can make education better for all of our kids.</i><br />
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<i>Our first school profile was on the <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-profile-hawthorn-leadership.html" target="_blank">Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls</a>.</i><br />
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<b><u>Episode Two: A New Way at New City</u></b><br />
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You can tell you're in a special place from the moment you walk into <a href="http://www.newcityschool.org/" target="_blank">New City School</a>. Nestled in a pretty neighborhood, New City's campus is gorgeous. I'm almost 29-years-old, and I could barely hold back from playing on their playground. (To be fair, I really like playgrounds.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0AuXpJ6fxcOETnr2FGOfujqZ3iMceE20t8Osv-x_wZ5QeDVSdG3QxCz-z4-5F3WP4K5odSyV794UHdHDISTNz8hN1MIq2GnBbqH79GaW39DlibfRcMPBcazuPrODUWg6yBZKLb1Abgic/s1600/Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0AuXpJ6fxcOETnr2FGOfujqZ3iMceE20t8Osv-x_wZ5QeDVSdG3QxCz-z4-5F3WP4K5odSyV794UHdHDISTNz8hN1MIq2GnBbqH79GaW39DlibfRcMPBcazuPrODUWg6yBZKLb1Abgic/s320/Stairs.jpg" width="302" /></a>Etched in the steps of the school are five phrases: <br />Truth<br />
Trust<br />
Active Listening<br />
Personal Best<br />
No Put-Downs.<br />
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They represent five of the organizing behaviors expected of students.<br />
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The school was alive. Its halls are wide, vibrant spaces. Walls are adorned with the work kids have done, with general descriptions written by staff.<br />
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I came on a particularly fun day. A bunch of kids were in costume, having taken on the characters of historic figures who had changed the world. I met Rachel Carson, who was proud of her work exposing the dangers of DDT and leading to environmental protection efforts in the United States. I also spoke with Winston Churchill for a bit. He seemed amused that his bust was back in the Oval Office.<br />
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The floors at New City are organized by grade level, with the school serving Pre-K through 6th grade. The oldest kids are on the top floor, the youngest at the lowest level.<br />
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I visited the elementary school classrooms first. The work they were doing centered a lot on character, making choices about how to treat others, and thinking about how to deal with injustice.<br />
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The school's library was big and bustling. Kids were singing in the auditorium. I saw another kid jumping on a mini-trampoline in a special room with a lot of fun playthings. Music and art obviously play big roles at New City.<br />
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And then I walked downstairs to the world of Pre-Primary.<br />
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The walls and doors were medieval-themed. There were two painted knights guarding a door. Different types of trees were painted on the hallway walls.<br />
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The learning spaces flowed with each other. Each very large room used cabinets to organize a labyrinth, with big openings for gathering spaces occupied by different groups of kids.<br />
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I met with one of these groups of kids, this one calling themselves the Hippos. They demanded that I visit, and we talked about so much!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtPCCC4aEEwDVa1Y2vmALnt72A_h_qj67NvsHOE2_fFXLOx6Pm3YGYZKRqC7bQyXva4dZSZyHIrTHs3HVUtqdkwG4CsoQHUSdiPMfw5QoZopWI9SEcls8YHNbHeiwg1oWexJJva4g1smZ/s1600/20170203_091853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtPCCC4aEEwDVa1Y2vmALnt72A_h_qj67NvsHOE2_fFXLOx6Pm3YGYZKRqC7bQyXva4dZSZyHIrTHs3HVUtqdkwG4CsoQHUSdiPMfw5QoZopWI9SEcls8YHNbHeiwg1oWexJJva4g1smZ/s320/20170203_091853.jpg" width="320" /></a>I felt like I was in a different world. The classroom environment was so different. I don't think a single room I visited had desks set up in rows. Most had pods or tables. One set up their seats in a circle.<br />
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I even had a chance to see the discipline system in action. A few little kids were messing around in the medieval hallway in Pre-K world. Their teacher caught them red-handed.<br />
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This teacher's tone got low, but not once did the teacher's voice get loud. There was no yelling, shouting, commanding. Instead, the conversation consisted of short, direct questions and statements.<br /><br />
"Friends, some of us were acting silly in the hallway."<br />"..."<br />"We're not supposed to act silly in the hallway, are we?"<br />"No."<br /><br />
Even the discipline system is a lesson in communication and self-understanding. Kids are supposed to consider their own behavior and whether it's appropriate. Shouting and commanding denies the opportunity for deeper learning in exchange for a quick resolution, but that trade is not made here.<br />
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After maybe 40 minutes of touring the school, I went back to speak with school staff about everything I had seen. I had so many questions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg-1JoEiSZMi6txZt5rtctzmNsISZ7XYNF3ad6OQFZy37HidguB4xl_Zn2duZw57KqMLdAF_IqhT96-FcOGyBMsWujVxJISBo4I8PJSmZKBVT0UA678feYShm43eRlbAGPWZdyYEVksw9/s1600/20170203_090745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg-1JoEiSZMi6txZt5rtctzmNsISZ7XYNF3ad6OQFZy37HidguB4xl_Zn2duZw57KqMLdAF_IqhT96-FcOGyBMsWujVxJISBo4I8PJSmZKBVT0UA678feYShm43eRlbAGPWZdyYEVksw9/s320/20170203_090745.jpg" width="320" /></a>New City places an emphasis on "Multiple Intelligences." I'm still reading about it, but, at its core, the Multiple Intelligences philosophy understands that children learn and express their talents in different ways. Some kids are great at math. Some kids are wonderfully coordinated. Some are skilled orators. Some are artistic talents. School is supposed to be a place that appreciates the differences in children and allows them to succeed in their own way.<br />
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This requires kids and their teachers to be very aware of the self. That's why much of the school curriculum involves self-discovery and introspection. From the time they start at New City, kids consider who they are and how they feel. Self-understanding develops over the years. In Pre-K, a student might draw a picture of herself and try to write her name below it. By the time she reaches 6th grade, the student is hanging a photo of herself in the hallway with words drawn on her arms representing an essential personal belief.<br />
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Little philosophers, these kids!<br />
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Now, obviously, New City has a lot of resources. Could any of this work in less-resourced schools?<br />
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Staff estimated that it could take a year or so for a kid to become comfortable with the type of expression and introspection expected in the program. And many public schools are limited in how flexible they can be with the curriculum due to standardized testing requirements. But the social skills and self-awareness education could do wonders in many places.<br />
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New City has created a great educational environment for their kids and staff. Based on the parental involvement I saw, it appears that many kids also have a ton of support at home. It just seemed like such a happy place that was so focused on kids.<br />
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Many schools don't have the resources of New City. Still, I can't help but wonder if a lot of behavioral issues in classrooms - one of the biggest stressors for teachers - could be drastically reduced by teaching kids from a young age to be self-aware and by making sure to engage kids in ways they naturally understand.<br />
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New City gave me a lot to think about. And I left with a reading list!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Succeeding-Multiple-Intelligences-Teaching-Intelligences/dp/0964351412" target="_blank">Succeeding with Multiple Intelligences: Teaching through the Personal Intelligences by the folks at New City School</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Every-Learner-Activities-Intelligences/dp/0470563869/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486489055&sr=1-1&keywords=celebrating+every+learner" target="_blank">Celebrating <i>Every</i> Learner: Activities and Strategies for Creating a Multiple Intelligences Classroom by the folks at New City School</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/034554806X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/034554806X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553386697/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel</a><br />
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<i>Elad Gross, J.D.</i><br />
<i>President and CEO</i><br />
<i>Education Exchange Corps</i><br />
<i>www.edexco.org</i><br />
<i>elad@edexco.org</i>Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com159tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-71327429473910210332017-01-25T15:59:00.001-08:002017-01-25T16:03:24.946-08:00School Profile: Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls<div>
<b><u>Prologue</u></b></div>
For the last several years, the Education Exchange Corps has been working in the Hyde Park neighborhood in North St. Louis City.<br />
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At the end of 2016, Clay Elementary - the public school that has been serving the area for a century - was targeted for closure. Instead of being closed, the school must show significant improvement in the next three years.</div>
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Advisory board members only have a few weeks to come up with a proposal to revamp Clay into a school that will attract more kids and improve academic performance. As part of that advisory board, I've decided to visit area schools with unique programs to see what ideas we could use to improve education for even more kids in our city.</div>
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So, <b><u>Episode One: The Hawks of Hawthorn!</u></b></div>
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The <a href="http://www.hawthornschool.org/" target="_blank">Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls</a> is a newer charter school. It started in 2015 with 6th and 7th graders. Each year, it will add a new grade until it eventually serves 6th-12th grade students. All girls.</div>
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I've passed by the school building many times in the nine years I've been working with kids in St. Louis City. The school is just off of North Kingshighway. I started my work just down the street at Lexington Elementary.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9y7wGhsfqExFVPdrQapsiFWvrAZ4143XSYn877xm5hx_ujFMWseG0VMNUrhvmE4W3fV1YJmIRjj4c0maZqP8JyUzC96QfGySIb8c4vRCjTxkDsohYye6cs7irXCpdUrbfXU3YSSQE0NM/s1600/20170125_102645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9y7wGhsfqExFVPdrQapsiFWvrAZ4143XSYn877xm5hx_ujFMWseG0VMNUrhvmE4W3fV1YJmIRjj4c0maZqP8JyUzC96QfGySIb8c4vRCjTxkDsohYye6cs7irXCpdUrbfXU3YSSQE0NM/s320/20170125_102645.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls</td></tr>
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The entry lobby is a good gathering spot. To the left is the office, which, because it doesn't have any doors, feels very welcoming. To the right are glass-enclosed shelves that showcase the school community and its achievements. And the path straight ahead intersects with a narrow hallway that encircles the building, providing access to large central classrooms and others off to the opposite side. </div>
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The tour was led by students. That's part of the college prep plan. Just like you'd see students leading tours in college, at Hawthorn, you're led by middle school kids. It's pretty great. You don't get a sterilized speech from an administrator. Instead, you hear from kids who obviously love their school, and love it enough that they aren't all too shy about saying what changes they'd like to see.</div>
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That was the most impressive part of Hawthorn for me: These kids take real ownership of their school space, and staff members support it. Students spend class time planning community engagement and ways to improve their school. The kids even got together and led a protest march around their school grounds to demonstrate their frustration about our national political climate, and their school supported their decision.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuZJKIKNatQ_6fTNeglpdLwqukp1PYr6je6Zj_WwT4wVkLUohoAKkS0sPtCBBbmYzDOSYxWw5tvZQTs8j2A3F39qGOcwmRU6u_MDBLMreyYWCa5k8p3o_DKvdiUDJHp8Ee8XRWnsu0OU/s1600/values.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuZJKIKNatQ_6fTNeglpdLwqukp1PYr6je6Zj_WwT4wVkLUohoAKkS0sPtCBBbmYzDOSYxWw5tvZQTs8j2A3F39qGOcwmRU6u_MDBLMreyYWCa5k8p3o_DKvdiUDJHp8Ee8XRWnsu0OU/s320/values.jpg" width="278" /></a>Hawthorn's leadership framework is organized around five core values: Joy, Support, Integrity, Courage, and Contribution. Kids can be nominated by other students or by staff for exhibiting these values, and they're celebrated in school-wide meetings.</div>
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These values flow through the school curriculum, which emphasizes college prep and STEM education. Students have two math periods including a "math lab" which is much more individualized to the needs of each student. Kids also participate in a lot of project-based learning, and they're given engineering problems they have to solve in teams.</div>
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Language Arts and History are combined, and the school is striving to link the topics covered back to leadership. One of the classes we visited was reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Sun-Sharon-M-Draper/dp/1416953485" target="_blank"><i>Copper Sun</i> by Sharon Draper</a>, which deals directly with the horrors of slavery and the slave trade.</div>
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Hawthorn has resources a lot of other schools don't. They have classrooms named for some of the major corporate and family donors in St. Louis. They receive support from Washington University. They have a social worker, a dean of students, and an assistant dean of students that help tremendously with their restorative justice discipline system. Students also are assigned a "buddy classroom" they can go to if they need to get out of their class environment and calm down, a flexibility that many schools don't have.</div>
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Hawthorn also does not provide transportation to their school. Transportation is very expensive. The lack of buses requires family members to come visit the school often, which helps build community. But it likely also limits who can attend the school. The school does offer after-school services.</div>
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I liked what I saw. </div>
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But I LOVED what I heard.</div>
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First, the feeling of family.</div>
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At one point, our tour guide kiddos were asked what they would do if they felt they had a problem they needed to talk about. Would they just go to their teacher?</div>
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Answer: They could go to <i>any</i> staff member they wanted to. If they connected well with a particular teacher, then that's where they would go.</div>
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And that wasn't even a knock on other teachers. It was a realistic, natural, mature observation. It was a statement made by kids who are in an environment that trusts them to do the right thing and supports them in doing it.</div>
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Second, the buy-in.</div>
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I took an unofficial mini-tour. I was straggling toward the end of the official tour, reading stuff that was on the hallway walls. A fourth kid we had met in her classroom came out into the hallway and said hi. As a joke, I asked her if she drew all of the pictures on the wall. She said, "No, but I did make this one." She pointed to a rainbow "Black Lives Matter" poster.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PYrPyWrTaZ4DNQ-4NtFOMXSOAZRH-g_0Aq0SdLuBymQhepp2D_iwUlij0o5vUqC9ZKEFDW4KfAtGsjhIkccrC8BW8SI0103CWskjp7xBc3LnqjEVNrHgIuWlnoBoX3e5rK3Xdw3fgj8/s1600/20170125_095358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PYrPyWrTaZ4DNQ-4NtFOMXSOAZRH-g_0Aq0SdLuBymQhepp2D_iwUlij0o5vUqC9ZKEFDW4KfAtGsjhIkccrC8BW8SI0103CWskjp7xBc3LnqjEVNrHgIuWlnoBoX3e5rK3Xdw3fgj8/s400/20170125_095358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I asked her why she made it. She told me about the protest march the kids led, how she wanted to be valued too. We got to talking, and we soon realized that when she was a little kid years ago, she was at one of the Education Exchange Corps' partner schools. She'd bounced around a lot from one school to the next when she was a kid.</div>
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I asked her if she really liked Hawthorn. She did. A lot. A lot a lot. She liked her teachers. She liked having a voice in how her school was run. She even liked the concept of having to wear a uniform.</div>
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Hawthorn is an impressive school that can do great things for St. Louis kids. Even schools with less resources can consider adopting some aspects of their curriculum and disciplinary approach. </div>
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But the most important lessons Hawthorn teaches are why it's so important to work together, what cooperation looks like, and how to trust others to be in positions of responsibility.</div>
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That's how kids become leaders.</div>
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<i>Elad Gross, J.D.</i></div>
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<i>President and CEO</i></div>
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<i>Education Exchange Corps</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.edexco.org</a></i></div>
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<i><a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a></i></div>
Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-65745613925815584502017-01-08T18:58:00.001-08:002017-01-09T04:52:55.350-08:00Missouri Harassment Law Has Changed, But with Little Likely Impact for Kids<span style="font-family: inherit;">So far, we've only discussed the changes to the <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html">laws about school fights</a>. Kids in Missouri are not more susceptible to prosecution for school fights.<br /><br />Some news outlets appear to have gotten that message. But now, some reports claim that Missouri's new harassment law threatens to criminalize student behavior. Those reports are overblown too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The confusion with the assault laws, as we discussed, appeared to have come from folks not fully comparing the old laws to the new and seeing that they were virtually the same, just numbered differently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The confusion with the harassment laws, however, is much trickier for non-lawyers. The new law seems to use new language, but, in reality, it's using the exact same language that courts have used for years in published court opinions to describe harassment.</span><br />
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In this post, we'll compare the new harassment law to the old one (including with another handy chart), talk about the important difference between statutory law and case law, compare Missouri's laws to what other states are doing, and talk about the implications for schools and families.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>How Has the Harassment Law Changed?</u></b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the surface, the harassment law's language has changed quite a bit. But, because of Missouri courts' interpretations over the past decades, the law hasn't changed much at all. The big change is the potential penalty. Harassment can now be a felony in Missouri.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi862NCh9-p0L_CIkZ1ZSsvLBW14o6pUPdBOJ0n2SplJMkN-BlIQNUPBNlrsVSvWpxCIAjraQ2JlbGL0gqLSaEZCvp886z1npVHEsUnHJLMRlU6GsM9J-3CqhnnHK-aqbNlSiUex1KxmL0/s1600/Harassment+Chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi862NCh9-p0L_CIkZ1ZSsvLBW14o6pUPdBOJ0n2SplJMkN-BlIQNUPBNlrsVSvWpxCIAjraQ2JlbGL0gqLSaEZCvp886z1npVHEsUnHJLMRlU6GsM9J-3CqhnnHK-aqbNlSiUex1KxmL0/s640/Harassment+Chart.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before 2017, there was one harassment crime. It was a misdemeanor (it could have been elevated to a felony for a repeat offender or for someone 21 or older harassing someone younger than 18). Now, there are two levels of harassment: one is a misdemeanor, and one is a low-level felony.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">New Harassment Law</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000901.html">new law reads</a>:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A person commits the offense of harassment in the first degree if he or she, without good cause, engages in any act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person, and such act does cause such person to suffer emotional distress.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the felony version. Misdemeanor harassment is the exact same except for the end: the victim does not have to actually suffer emotional distress.<br /><br />To convict a defendant of felony harassment, a prosecutor must prove:<br />1) The defendant acted without good cause;<br />2) The defendant acted with the purpose to cause emotional distress to someone else; and<br />3) The defendant caused that other person to suffer emotional distress.<br /><br />If the prosecutor cannot prove any one of those elements beyond a reasonable doubt, then the defendant cannot be convicted of felony harassment.<br /><br />Emotional distress!? That's it!!? You may be thinking, "I'm getting harassed all the time under this new law!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />There are two terms in the law that could use some defining: "good cause" and "emotional distress." What counts?<br /><br />"Good cause" is not defined in the statute, but "emotional distress" is defined in <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000021.html">another law</a>.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">[Emotional distress is] something markedly greater than the level of uneasiness, nervousness, unhappiness, or the like which are commonly experienced in day-to-day living.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This definition seems to leave quite a bit unanswered. It appears that uneasiness, nervousness, and unhappiness could qualify as emotional distress, but they need to "markedly" exceed the level commonly experienced in day-to-day living. So what level of emotional distress is considered normal? How much is "markedly"? Does that depend on the victim or on a typical reasonable person? It sounds like we're supposed to look at the typical, common, reasonable person and how she would feel, but that's not explicitly stated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the catch, folks: In America, we have case law. Case law is the collection of court interpretations that define what the law is.</span><br />
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After a rule becomes a law, people get prosecuted, and they may disagree that what they did fits within the law. So courts have to figure out what the law means. And, oftentimes, the courts write down their opinions, and these writings form case law, which is used to further define the law.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This definition of emotional distress - the "markedly greater" language above - actually comes from Missouri courts' interpretation of the old law.</span><br />
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This "new" definition of emotional distress has been used by Missouri courts for many years. Take a look at this <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7396095427712272368&q=substantial+emotional+distress&hl=en&as_sdt=4,26" target="_blank">2008 Missouri case</a> that actually cites a 1998 case for the same definition.<br />
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And that definition comes with a reasonable person standard. Using this definition, the courts in Missouri held that, when deciding whether something is emotionally distressing, we have to look at how the reasonable person would respond, not at how the particular victim with his unique character responded.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />So, although the new law doesn't appear to be super clear, it has actually been updated to be in line with old and current Missouri case law, and the case law does provide at least a bit more clarity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: yellow;">
The new harassment law is actually just the old one, now using the language Missouri courts were already using.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's look at the old law to fully compare.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Old Harassment Law</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2015/title-xxxviii/chapter-565/section-11-565.090/">old law</a>:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A person commits the crime of harassment if for the purpose of frightening or disturbing another person, he<br />
(1) Communicates in writing or by telephone a threat to commit any felony; or<br />
(2) Makes a telephone call or communicates in writing and uses coarse language offensive to one of average sensibility; or<br />
(3) Makes a telephone call anonymously; or<br />
(4) Makes repeated telephone calls; or<br />
(5) Knowingly makes repeated unwanted communication to another person; or<br />
(6) Without good cause engages in any other act with the purpose to frighten, intimidate, or cause emotional distress to another person, cause such person to be frightened, intimidated, or emotionally distressed, and such person's response to the act is one of a person of average sensibilities considering the age of such person.</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The old law's first four options were very specific. But take a look at that fifth option: "Knowingly makes repeated unwanted communication to another person." Sounds like a presidential election!<br /><br />We do have a process in Missouri to challenge bad state laws through the courts. In 2012, the <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5430894125524832797&q=565.090&hl=en&as_sdt=4,26">Missouri Supreme Court found</a> option 5 in the old harassment law to be unconstitutional because it was overbroad. That means the crime covered too much conduct that was protected free speech. So option 5 was no longer a crime.<br /><br />Now check out old option 6. It looks pretty similar to the new harassment law. Just take away a few words and it's almost identical. In that same 2012 court case, the Missouri Supreme Court considered option 6 too.<br /><br />Remember the term "good cause" from the new law that was left undefined? It appears in this old law too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Missouri Supreme Court found that the "good cause" language limited the old harassment law enough to protect people. One of the examples the Supreme Court used was a kid in a Halloween costume scaring others. Apparently, that kid would have "good cause" to cause someone emotional distress and would not be in violation of the law.<br /><br />The Court stated that the words "good cause" required the emotional distress to be "substantial."<br /><br />The Court provided a definition for "good cause": "a cause that would motivate a reasonable person of like age under the circumstances under which the act occurred."<br />This definition takes into account the age of the actor.<br /><br />So, when we take case law into account, the old law is almost the exact same as the new law, other than the potential penalty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />And, just to make things more complicated, there was another old law that included harassment in it (this disorganization happened in the old criminal code, which is one of the big reasons why it was revised and updated).<br />The <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2015/title-xxxviii/chapter-565/section-25-565.225/">other old law</a> was for stalking.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A person commits the crime of stalking if he or she purposely, through his or her course of conduct, harasses or follows with the intent of harassing another person.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And harassment had its own definition here because WHY NOT!?</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">[Harass:] to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that serves no legitimate purpose, that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and that actually causes substantial emotional distress to that person.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, this law used the "reasonable person" standard. And this language is also very similar to the new harassment language.<br /><br />The revised stalking law no longer includes harassment, in case you were worried. </span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>So... Has the Harassment Law Changed?</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other than the increase in the potential penalty, no. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
On the surface, the harassment law has changed. But, when we look at what courts have said in the past about Missouri's harassment law, the new changes made to the harassment language just put the written law in line with the court's previous interpretation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The fact that the new harassment law does not explicitly include a reasonable person standard is confusing. The law could be read as eliminating that reasonable person standard. And maybe someone will eventually challenge the law on that ground. But, given Missouri courts' recent and historic interpretation of the same language used in the old law, the reasonable person standard very likely still exists.<br /><br />Here's the big change: Harassment that causes emotional distress is now a felony regardless of who is involved (although keep reading to see how that is limited by the "good cause" language).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Does This Change Anything For Kids?</u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not realistically, but there are some changes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
The law could potentially change things for kids 17 and older because they do not have the protection of the juvenile justice system, but even that is really unlikely.<br /><br />Because the words "good cause" have been defined by the Missouri Supreme Court to take into account the age of the harasser, prosecutors who choose to go after older kids for behavior typical of kids their age will have an enormously hard time doing so.<br /><br />And remember the <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html" target="_blank">juvenile justice system</a>?</span></div>
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A kid under the age of 12 cannot be certified as an adult to stand trial for criminal harassment.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For a kid older than 12 and under 17 to end up in criminal court facing a felony charge for school behavior, the kid would have to:<br />1) Criminally harass someone;<br />2) Go through the school discipline system;<br />3) Be referred by the school to law enforcement;<br />4) Be determined by law enforcement to have broken the law and be referred to a juvenile officer;<br />5) Have a juvenile officer think that informal or formal options in the juvenile system would not work and recommend the kid be tried as an adult;<br />6) Have a juvenile judge certify the child as an adult; and<br />7) Have a prosecutor also agree and charge the child with felony harassment.<br /><br />For kids 17 and older, the same process occurs without steps 5 and 6 and with a law enforcement referral to a prosecutor.<br /><br />In 2015, <a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=104316" target="_blank">0.24% of kids in the juvenile justice system for a law violation were referred for adult criminal prosecution</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Before harassment was made a felony, no kid in the juvenile system could be certified to stand trial as an adult. </div>
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Now it's legally possible that a kid between the ages of 12 and 17 could stand trial in a criminal court for harassment. But, given the need to have school staff, law enforcement, a juvenile officer, a juvenile judge, and a prosecutor all believe the kid needs to be charged as an adult, despite the availability of other options, that result is highly unlikely.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The big change that could impact kids (and adults) is that harassment has been elevated to a felony, but any impact on kids is highly unlikely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Does This Change Anything for Schools?</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No. Schools already had to report criminal harassment to law enforcement <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2015/title-xi/chapter-160/section-160.261/">even in 2016</a> and <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/16000002611.html">still have to in 2017</a>. The new definition is almost identical to the old when we consider not only the statutory language, but the case law too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<u>Even If the Law's Language Isn't Changing, Are There Problems with It?</u></h3>
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That depends on your view about how much discretion prosecutors should have. For anyone who ends up in a criminal court charged with harassment, a lot will be up to the jury. Given the defendant's age, what is "good cause?" What is "substantial emotional distress?" Did the defendant actually have an intent to cause emotional distress?</div>
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A prosecutor has a significant amount of leeway to work with here. And because kids 17 and older are not protected by the juvenile justice system, they could quickly be on the wrong end of discretion. </div>
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But, realistically, an elected prosecutor is not going to stretch to go after children for school harassment. </div>
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The real issue hiding under all of this talk about laws changing is the lack of trust the American people have in their institutions, the feeling of regular folks that they don't have a voice in our system, the inequities that exist for those who have less resources or who have been historically marginalized. This particular law provides (and has provided) discretion to one of our institutions, and that's something many folks don't feel like providing much of anymore. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Are Other States Like Missouri?</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes. There are other states with stalking laws that use language similar to Missouri's new harassment law. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just based on a quick read-through <a href="https://victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/stalking-laws/criminal-stalking-laws-by-state" target="_blank">of this stalking law database</a>, here's a list of some states with similar laws to Missouri and how they treat basic stalking: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alabama (misdemeanor), Colorado (felony), Delaware (felony), Washington, D.C. (misdemeanor), Florida (misdemeanor), Idaho (misdemeanor), Illinois (felony), Maine (misdemeanor), Rhode Island (felony), South Carolina (felony), Tennessee (misdemeanor), Utah (misdemeanor), Washington (misdemeanor), West Virginia (misdemeanor), Wyoming (misdemeanor).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other states other than those listed have stalking laws too, and some states may have independent harassment laws. But Missouri is not the only state that treats this type of behavior as a felony.</span><br />
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<h3>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does That Mean Parents, Schools, and Others Shouldn't Do Anything?</span></u></h3>
No! Absolutely do something! Talk to your kids about how to act civil. Teach them that their actions can really hurt people, that as a human being they have the choice to make their communities better homes or to trash this place for everyone. Put them in environments that challenge them, that encourage them to ask questions about the society we have built. Ask them about what's going on in that Twilight Zone social media world they spend so much time in. And be patient with them. They're learning how to be humans.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But don't do it because of some manufactured threat of prosecution. Do it because it's right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
At the bottom of all of this talk about laws changing is an unspoken understanding that all of our kids are getting screwed. Our poor kids are getting screwed out of opportunity. Even our well-off kids are getting screwed out of a fairer future because we are currently neglecting a whole bunch of kids who will grow up right alongside them.<br />
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We're building a broken foundation for the next generation to lay their society on, and a broken foundation can only bear so much potential. It's about time we address the real problems underlying our society and build an America that we know we can be.<br />
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Here's the link to our story in the St. Louis American story: <a href="http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html"><br />http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">Our post about the new assault laws</a></div>
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<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html" target="_blank">Our post about the juvenile justice system</a></div>
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<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">Our post about the redefinition of "physical injury"</a></div>
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<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">Our post about the school reporting requirements for school fights</a></div>
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To report a suspected issue with how the assault law is implemented, follow this link:</div>
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<a href="http://www.edexco.org/report.html">http://www.edexco.org/report.html</a></div>
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To support the Education Exchange Corps, you can donate at this link:</div>
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<a href="https://bitly.com/">https://bitly.com/</a></div>
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<i>Elad Gross is a former Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He graduated from Washington University School of Law.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><i>This blog post is not meant to provide legal advice. If you are in need of legal assistance, please contact an attorney.</i></div>
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Elad Gross, J.D.</div>
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President and CEO</div>
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Education Exchange Corps</div>
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<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a></div>
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<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a></div>
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Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-16905207779833496312017-01-02T11:39:00.000-08:002017-01-09T04:55:24.636-08:00School Assault Reporting Requirements for School DistrictsWe've received a few questions about the new school reporting requirements and how they relate to the Missouri assault laws.<br />
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We briefly wrote about these requirements in our <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html" target="_blank">post about the juvenile justice system</a>, but we want to highlight this information.</div>
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When kids commit certain crimes at school, their behavior has to be reported to police. </div>
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The two big statutes here are <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/16000002611.html" target="_blank">RSMo 160.261</a> and <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/16700001171.HTML" target="_blank">RSMo 167.117</a>. Here's a chart summarizing what needs to be reported:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzbHkZnawmoEMNV8U9Zc6IyC4uiDD3kTIGWauOddTxmwsSDIIVD0EkYMh2mt_MU602xLKLX91AfW4AHwyQYpm-7yathfFxAi4ySOSRQt2NMezs2bkQAB5DatQNg6OZE92ssFtcYfidyM/s1600/Assault+Reporting+Chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzbHkZnawmoEMNV8U9Zc6IyC4uiDD3kTIGWauOddTxmwsSDIIVD0EkYMh2mt_MU602xLKLX91AfW4AHwyQYpm-7yathfFxAi4ySOSRQt2NMezs2bkQAB5DatQNg6OZE92ssFtcYfidyM/s640/Assault+Reporting+Chart.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Teachers and Principals' Reporting Requirements</u></b></div>
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RSMo 167.117 <b><u>has not changed.</u></b> This law requires teachers and principals to report. Teachers are supposed to report to principals, and principals are supposed to report to police and the superintendent.</div>
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The behaviors to be reported are:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Assault in the First Degree</li>
<li>Assault in the Second Degree</li>
<li>Assault in the Third Degree</li>
<li>Sexual Assault</li>
<li>Deviate Sexual Assault</li>
</ul>
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Thanks to comma usage, this law could be read in one of two ways. First (and the one that makes the most sense) is that all of these crimes need to happen "against a pupil or school employee, while on school property, including a school bus in service on behalf of the district, or while involved in school activities."</div>
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Another way to read the law is that these crimes could happen anywhere and need to be reported except Deviate Sexual Assault, which only needs to be reported if it involves school as described in quotes above. This reading doesn't make much sense, especially <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56600000101.html" target="_blank">when reading the definition of Deviate Sexual Intercourse</a> in comparison to the other behaviors, but it's possible. However, this language is not different in 2017 than it was in 2016.</div>
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Because RSMo 167.117 has not been updated, it did not change with the assault law changes. The list does not include Assault in the Fourth Degree.</div>
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Assault in the Fourth Degree is a misdemeanor assault. It's the same thing as what Assault in the Third Degree used to be. Now, Assault in the Third Degree is a low-level felony assault.</div>
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This means that, back in 2016, school staff had to report felony and misdemeanor assaults. <b><u style="background-color: yellow;">Now, because the law was not updated, they do not have to report misdemeanor assaults anymore.</u></b></div>
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There's another wrinkle to all of this too.</div>
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The law allows Assault in the Third Degree to be reported in a special way. Superintendents can make written agreements with police to determine how assaults in the third degree are reported to police, and then staff would have to follow those policies. Based on the law, it appears that these agreements could be pretty flexible; there aren't really any restrictions on how they can work.</div>
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So this special reporting arrangement - which was previously available only for misdemeanor assaults - now applies to low-level felony assaults.</div>
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;">The new assault laws have actually decreased reporting requirements for schools when it comes to assaults.</u></b> Now, districts can make special arrangements with police about how to report low-level felony assaults at school, and districts don't have to report misdemeanor assaults at all.</div>
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<b><u>School Administrators' Reporting Requirements</u></b></div>
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But what about that other statute, <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/16000002611.html" target="_blank">RSMo 160.261</a>?</div>
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That law places reporting requirements on school administrators to report to staff members and to law enforcement.</div>
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It requires school districts to have policies requiring "school administrators to report acts of school violence to all teachers at the attendance center and, in addition, to other school district employees with a need to know." </div>
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Who "needs to know?" That's defined as school staff who teach or interact with the kid.</div>
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OK. But what's an "act of violence?" It means a kid needs to use "physical force" "with the intent to do serious physical injury" to someone else on school property. </div>
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In an earlier post, <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">we discussed the definition of "serious physical injury"</a> and how it is used only for the highest level assaults: Assault in the First and Second Degrees. It's defined as "physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part of the body." It's pretty bad.</div>
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In short, <b><u style="background-color: yellow;">when it comes to assault, school administrators need to tell staff members when a kid commits Assault 1st or 2nd,</u></b> not 3rd or 4th. It might be a good idea for school administrators to communicate more than that to staff members, but that's up to school districts to determine.</div>
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RSMo 160.261 also requires school administrators to have a policy to report to police. At a minimum, the policy must require administrators to report 25 different crimes to police. That list includes Assault in the First and Second degree, which were included before 2016. It does not include Assault in the Third and Fourth Degrees.</div>
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A school district can choose to include more crimes in its policy if it wishes. And, as we just discussed, Assault in the Third Degree is subject to at least a special reporting requirement under RSMo 167.117. <b><u style="background-color: yellow;">Under the law, school administrators do not have to report Assault in the Fourth Degree to police, and they can have a special arrangement to report Assault in the Third Degree to police.</u></b></div>
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<b>Bottom Line: In 2017, when it comes to assault, school staff and districts have less of a reporting requirement. Districts have the ability to report more crimes or change nothing. But there is no change in the law that requires them to report more assaults.</b></div>
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Here's the link to our story in the St. Louis American story: <a href="http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html"><br />http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">Our post about the new assault laws</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html" target="_blank">Our post about the juvenile justice system</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">Our post about the redefinition of "physical injury"</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/missouri-harassment-law-and-kids.html" target="_blank">Our post about the harassment law</a><br />
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To report a suspected issue with how the assault law is implemented, follow this link:<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/report.html">http://www.edexco.org/report.html</a><br />
<br />
To support the Education Exchange Corps, you can donate at this link:<br />
<a href="https://bitly.com/">https://bitly.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross is a former Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He graduated from Washington University School of Law.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>This blog post is not meant to provide legal advice. If you are in need of legal assistance, please contact an attorney.</i><br />
<br />
Elad Gross, J.D.<br />
President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a></div>
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Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-37949515336668507002016-12-30T08:47:00.004-08:002017-01-09T04:55:48.319-08:00Results of Our Investigation into the New Assault Laws in Missouri Published in St. Louis AmericanFriends,<br />
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I'm sure many of you have read the news reports about Missouri's new assault laws and how they will affect kids. After reading these stories, I was highly concerned about what would happen to Missouri children in school.<br />
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In an effort to educate communities and help families protect themselves, I started investigating the law and the information surrounding it.<br />
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This investigation included interviews with people all over the state of Missouri, many days of research, and community discussions.<br />
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The conclusion I drew from all of this work is that, contrary to many of the news reports out there, the new assault laws do not allow more prosecution for school fights. It would be wrong for any of our institutions to go after more kids on the basis of a change in the law that does not exist.<br />
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I'm thankful that the <a href="http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html" target="_blank">St. Louis American published these results today</a> to help kids and parents feel more secure in the rights they have. I have been working with area school districts and law enforcement officers to make sure our kids are treated like kids should be.<br />
<br />
But families are rightfully terrified by what our kids are going through in many of our communities. Far too many kids are denied access to opportunity. Racial bias is undeniably a part of our system. Socioeconomic bias is undeniably a part of our system. Even if the new laws are the same as the old, the old ways weren't helping a large and growing portion of Americans.<br />
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The only way we fix these problems is by working together. I'm proud of the work the Education Exchange Corps has been able to do for the last nine years, and I have met many people who are determined to make Missouri a better home for all of our kids. Together, I know we can.<br />
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<br />
Here's the link to the St. Louis American story: <a href="http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html"><br />http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/new-laws-will-not-increase-prosecutions-for-school-fights/article_a32c9394-cea1-11e6-9fdb-1f85dacbefe4.html</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">Our post about the new assault laws</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html" target="_blank">Our post about the juvenile justice system</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">Our post about the redefinition of "physical injury"</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">Our post about school district reporting requirements</a><br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/missouri-harassment-law-and-kids.html" target="_blank">Our post about the harassment law</a><br />
<br />
<br />
To report a suspected issue with how the assault law is implemented, follow this link:<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/report.html">http://www.edexco.org/report.html</a><br />
<br />
To support the Education Exchange Corps, you can donate at this link: <br />
<a href="https://bitly.com/">https://bitly.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross is a former Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He graduated from Washington University School of Law. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This blog post is not meant to provide legal advice. If you are in need of legal assistance, please contact an attorney.</i><br />
<br />
Elad Gross, J.D.<br />
President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org"><br /></a></div>
Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-50302678487110575792016-12-29T21:21:00.003-08:002017-01-09T04:56:39.659-08:00Missouri Assault Law: New Definition of Physical Injury Makes It Harder to ProveI've <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">posted about the changes in Missouri assault law</a> as they pertain to kids in school. I've also <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html" target="_blank">posted about how the juvenile justice system works</a>.<br />
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This post compares the changes in the definition of "physical injury" in Missouri criminal law.<br />
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Each crime is defined under the law, and each type of assault has its own definition (in 2017, we will have Assault 1st, Assault 2nd, Assault 3rd, and Assault 4th). These definitions are important because they include the requirements of what a prosecutor must prove - beyond a reasonable doubt - to convict a defendant of a crime.<br />
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Let's look at the definition of Assault 1st as it will be <span style="font-family: inherit;">in 2017:</span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 28px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: 28px;">"A person commits the offense of assault in the first degree if he or she attempts to kill or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to another person." </span><a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000501.html" style="text-indent: 28px;">RSMo 556.050.1</a><span style="text-indent: 28px;">.</span><br />
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One way to commit Assault 1st is to knowingly cause or attempt to cause "serious physical injury." <br />
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To commit Assault 3rd (the one everyone is talking about), you don't need to cause serious physical injury. <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000541.html">You just need to knowingly cause "physical injury."</a> No serious needed.<br />
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What qualifies as serious or regular physical injury?<br />
<a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55600000611.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55600000611.html">That's defined in another part of the law</a>. And the definition has changed for 2017. So here's a chart:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQlJ0EpPGs2u-wn4F9czSutsIb5oUijbTgBFSNmxXlmulkQ7gMiojAZOLyKZWxpz242cz07QbyweQnqAQNkqGa1mJZOGdP6IuGBlYXoaJ_CdFj4dz0vAaaXXX4_qEkkFP_LhbcjcoQsw/s1600/Physical+Injury+Chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQlJ0EpPGs2u-wn4F9czSutsIb5oUijbTgBFSNmxXlmulkQ7gMiojAZOLyKZWxpz242cz07QbyweQnqAQNkqGa1mJZOGdP6IuGBlYXoaJ_CdFj4dz0vAaaXXX4_qEkkFP_LhbcjcoQsw/s640/Physical+Injury+Chart.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Nothing has changed about serious physical injury. But the definition of physical injury has changed. (Unfortunately, it appears that the old versions of these statutes are being deleted off of the state's website to make room for the new ones. You can see the old definition <a href="http://www.laws9.com/statutes/missouri/t38/c556/556_061">on this website</a> or <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2133608186698312380&q=rsmo+556.061+physical+injury&hl=en&as_sdt=4,26">in this court case</a>.)<br />
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Starting in 2017, physical injury will include less violence than it once did. In 2017, causing "physical pain" will no longer be enough. Causing "illness" will no longer be enough either. And "any impairment of physical condition" has been limited down to an impairment of body functions or temporary loss of use of a body part. <br />
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So, in 2017, you've got to do something worse than the minimum you had to do before 2017 to be convicted of a crime requiring a "physical injury." The new definition has raised the bar on what counts as "physical injury."<br />
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This new definition will make it harder for a prosecutor to prove that defendants caused a physical injury to someone, which will make it harder for the prosecutor to prove certain crimes occurred.<br />
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When it comes to kids who do make it into criminal court, this new definition will make it harder for kids to be convicted of the new Assault 3rd for school fights.<br />
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Bottom line: Law enforcement, school staff, and others should not be using this new definition to refer more kids to the juvenile or criminal justice systems.<br />
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And again, even with this new definition, kids are still facing tremendous obstacles to success. We have to do better.<br />
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In the coming days, we will put out potential steps folks and organizations can consider taking to<br />
address at least some of those obstacles.<br />
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(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">Click here for our first blog post about the changes in the assault laws</a>.)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html#.WGLkXlUrLIU" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on the juvenile justice system</a>.)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on school reporting requirements.</a>)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/missouri-harassment-law-and-kids.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on the harassment law</a>.)<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross is a former Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He graduated from Washington University School of Law. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>This blog post is not meant to provide legal advice. If you are in need of legal assistance, please contact an attorney.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Elad Gross, J.D.<br />
President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a><br />
<div>
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org"><br /></a></div>
Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-67051819511918378822016-12-27T13:59:00.001-08:002017-01-03T10:12:14.835-08:00Missouri's New Assault Laws, a Juvenile Justice Whiteboard, and an Interview with a School Resource Officer Coordinator(If you're here to read about school district reporting requirements, you can read a little about that in this post, or <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">a lot about it here</a>.)<br />
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Missouri's new assault laws will not increase prosecutions of kids for school fights.<br />
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Our <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">last post described the changes in Missouri assault law</a> and showed that really not much is changing, especially when it comes to kids. For a long time, it seemed that we were the only ones telling it like it is. But, thankfully, <a href="http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/rumors-aside-school-fights-could-already-result-felony-charges-missouri#stream/0" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio published an article</a> further confirming this truth. They interviewed folks with a lot of experience in the juvenile justice system in Missouri.</div>
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But just because the law isn't changing does not mean we do not have a problem! Our juvenile justice system is heavily strained. Our schools are under-resourced. Our communities lack real support. These are big problems that need our attention, and we cannot be distracted by false news reports and mistaken notices about some "new law" that's the exact same as the old.<br />
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I have reached out to school districts, police departments, the media, and others to try to get this confusion about the law cleared up in Missouri, and, together, we can get this done. I'll talk about these problems further down in this post and in future ones, but I also think it's important we all understand what a kid faces if the kid ends up in trouble: The juvenile justice system.</div>
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Our last post focused on adult criminal law. But that's not where kids enter the justice system. They go through the juvenile court system. Hopefully, this post clarifies what actually happens to kids.</div>
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So if a kid gets into a fight, how does this all play out? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA9G1VYcyKo" target="_blank">You can watch our video</a> if you like cats and whiteboards. Or you can just keep reading!</div>
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I like whiteboards. A lot. And I like color-coding things. Also a lot. Let's do both.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlswg7EGwOVBs1vtuoaHhouC_ZTh_qRYCm5X-DzNpSkLE8Edf0TgpL7mssLB21UAFCx70crzjWgkYPHrUJEjYscasV9g07y6RepQPb4P4YkffEVvWvDNKDZbyPiyK91e0wQY627XnmOA/s1600/Juvenile+Letter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlswg7EGwOVBs1vtuoaHhouC_ZTh_qRYCm5X-DzNpSkLE8Edf0TgpL7mssLB21UAFCx70crzjWgkYPHrUJEjYscasV9g07y6RepQPb4P4YkffEVvWvDNKDZbyPiyK91e0wQY627XnmOA/s640/Juvenile+Letter.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u>In Section A</u></b>, two kids are fighting. Oftentimes, that's the end of that story. No one ever hears about the fight, outside of a few silent witnesses. </div>
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Kids: Don't fight. People get hurt, and it's not going to fix anything. And kids: If you fight at our summer program, you know you'll be sitting doing nothing fun for far too long. So no fighting.</div>
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<b><u>In Section B</u></b>, an adult may intervene in the fight. At school, this can be a teacher, a principal, or another staff member. If a fight makes it into Section B, it might end there too. Teacher admonishes kids. Done.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At school, there are some reporting requirements. (For our more extensive conversation about this topic, <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">read this blog post</a>.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/16700001171.HTML" target="_blank">A teacher has to tell a principal, and a principal has to tell the superintendent and local police</a>, when someone commits Assault 1st, Assault 2nd, Assault 3rd, Sexual Assault, or Deviate Sexual Assault. Interestingly, this law was not updated for the change in the assault laws. Remember from our previous post that old Assault 3rd is a misdemeanor? Now, Assault 4th will be the misdemeanor. Assault 4th is not included in this reporting law, so there are actually less reporting requirements for school officials starting in 2017.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/16000002611.html" target="_blank">Another law requires school districts to set a policy</a> for school administrators to report, at a minimum, several major crimes. Neither Assault 3rd nor Assault 4th are included. And this reporting law has been updated!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, in 2017, the reporting requirements could be the same (if the school district sets such a policy), but the 2017 legal requirements are less than they are currently in 2016, especially with respect to misdemeanor assault.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>In Section C</u></b>, a police officer is involved. This could be because a teacher refers a serious issue to the police, or maybe the police officer was already at the school as a School Resource Officer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If a kid makes it through Sections A-C, and the officer believes that something serious happened, the kid would be referred to a juvenile officer.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now a kid would be involved in a juvenile court, shown in <b><u>Section D</u></b>. Unlike what news reports have strongly implied, the kid does not go straight to an adult criminal court, shown in <b><u>Section E</u></b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Juvenile court is not like adult court. It was designed to help kids deal with bad behavior in a rehabilitative way. A kid may be dealt with informally, such as by receiving a warning or having to check in with a supervisor. A kid may be dealt with more formally if the issue is serious or if the kid is a frequent visitor. In those formal situations, the juvenile officer would file a petition with the court, and a judge would hear evidence to determine what treatment or services a kid needs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then how does a kid get to adult criminal court? The kid must be certified to stand trial as an adult. At a hearing, the juvenile officer may recommend it, the judge would have to certify the kid as an adult, and the local prosecutor would have to charge the kid with a crime.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In some situations, a <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/21100000711.HTML" target="_blank">certification hearing is mandatory</a>. That means the court would have to at least consider certifying the kid as an adult. A kid of any age could be certified as an adult for some major crimes, like murder, or Assault 1st (attempt to kill). A typical school fight does not qualify for a mandatory certification hearing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other situations, a <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/21100000711.HTML" target="_blank">certification hearing is discretionary</a>, which means that, in these situations, the court doesn't have to look into certifying the kid if the court deems it inappropriate. Discretionary hearings are only available in limited cases. First, the kid must be between 12 and 17 years old. And the alleged crime must be a felony.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So those stories about 5-year-old kids being prosecuted for felony crayon-throwing? They are wrong.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In order to make it to criminal court, a kid has to go through a lot of steps. The system is designed so that kids, except under extreme circumstances, do not end up in adult criminal court. The prosecutors I have spoken with across the state say the same thing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But is that true? In 2015, <a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=104316" target="_blank">0.24% of kids involved in a law violation in juvenile court were certified to stand trial as an adult</a>. A quarter of a percent. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I spoke with a Sergeant with the <a href="http://www.sikeston.org/departments/public_safety/" target="_blank">Sikeston Department of Public Safety</a>. Sgt. Jon Broom deals with the area's School Resource Officers. I asked him if he knew of any school fights that rose to such a high level to be prosecuted as a felony. He knew of maybe 5 serious fights that could have potentially qualified, but he wasn't sure if they had made it to adult criminal court.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sgt. Broom was interviewed in one of the first news reports on this topic. He wished the changes to the law had been explained more thoroughly. And kids do need to know that serious fighting can get them in trouble. A kid who hurts someone can end up being referred to juvenile court and may even have to spend a night in detention. So, again, kids: Don't fight.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But 5-year-olds are not going to become felons for throwing crayons.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The change in the law is not a real problem for kids in school fights. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But one big and very real problem is our juvenile justice system. Kids do not get enough support in the system. Nationally, our juvenile justice systems are strained. Too few staff dealing with too many cases. That leads to kids not receiving the best or, at times, even adequate defenses. That leads to kids falling through the cracks. But rarely does it end up with a kid being convicted of a felony.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Other than the lack of resources, our juvenile justice system also places the juvenile officer in an awkward position. The juvenile system is supposed to rehabilitate kids, and the juvenile officer is supposed to be supportive. But, especially when the situation gets more serious and formal, the juvenile officer may have to act more like a prosecutor than a supporter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The juvenile justice system in St. Louis County has come under scrutiny from the Department of Justice, and they've recently come to an agreement to reform the system. <a href="https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2015/07/31/stlouis_findings_7-31-15.pdf" target="_blank">The Department of Justice report</a> found significant constitutional violations and racial inequity in the system. Those are serious and very real problems.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course, our juvenile justice system is deeply interconnected with what is going on in our schools and neighborhoods. The deficiencies in our justice system are a direct result of poverty and societal negligence. Until we deal with the underlying problems of poverty, unemployment, education, and opportunity, there's only so much that even a perfect system of justice can do. Another set of real problems.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And that's why it's important for us to focus our energies on the real problems facing kids. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And it's important for all of us to do our part. So if you were fired up about those incorrect news stories out there, ALRIGHT! Let's get you involved in the real fight for our kids' future. And if you need help doing that, sign up on our website at <a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a> or send me an email at <a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a>.</div>
<div>
<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-missouri-criminal-code-will-not.html" target="_blank">Click here for our first blog post about the changes in the assault laws</a>.)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on the redefinition of "physical injury."</a>)<br />
(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA9G1VYcyKo" target="_blank">Click here for our explanatory video</a>.)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on school district reporting requirements.</a>)<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Elad Gross is a former Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He graduated from Washington University School of Law.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>This blog post is not meant to provide legal advice. If you are in need of legal assistance, please contact an attorney.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Elad Gross, J.D.</div>
<div>
President and CEO</div>
<div>
Education Exchange Corps</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a></div>
<div>
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-50147749888680783572016-12-22T23:05:00.001-08:002017-01-09T04:57:17.912-08:00New Missouri Criminal Code Will NOT Increase Assault Prosecutions of KidsThere have been a lot of stories and posts on social media about how Missouri will now be upping imprisonment penalties on kids involved in school fights come 2017.<br />
<br />
These stories are not correct. Imprisonment penalties will remain the same, although potential monetary fines will increase. And the 2017 law will not bring a rash of new prosecutions against kids.<br />
<br />
Today, people involved in fights in Missouri can be prosecuted under the law. These laws are listed in the Revised Statutes of Missouri (or "RSMo" for short).<br />
<br />
In Missouri, a crime called "assault" involves the use of force (or sometimes the threat of force) between people.<br />
<br />
Today, one of these assault crimes is called "Assault while on school property." The statute is <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000752.html" target="_blank">RSMo 565.075</a>. If someone "knowingly causes physical injury to another person" at school, a school activity, or in a vehicle traveling in the service of a school, that person can be prosecuted for a Class D felony. Today.<br />
<br />
Missouri revised its criminal code. So, come January 1, 2017, the law will change. This assault while on school property crime will no longer exist. Instead, it will be absorbed into "Assault in the third degree." This statute is <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000541.html" target="_blank">RSMo 565.054</a>. If someone "knowingly causes physical injury to another person" (there's that "knowingly" language again), they can be prosecuted for a Class E felony.<br />
<br />
This means that, today, there is no crime for "knowingly causing physical injury to another person" outside of school. Today, a prosecutor would either have to prove that the attacker outside of school "knowingly caused <i style="font-weight: bold;">serious</i> physical injury" (and impose a higher penalty) or prove that the attacker "<b><i>recklessly</i></b> caused physical injury" (and impose a lesser penalty). Today, there is no middle ground for assaults outside of school.<br />
<br />
That middle ground does exist today, but, for some reason, only for school-related fights. Starting in 2017, this same rule that applies to school assaults will apply outside of schools too, giving prosecutors more flexibility to make an appropriate charge for the circumstances.<br />
<br />
Here's a chart showing the changes to the assault laws. I left out assault charges related to weapons and a few words to make it a little more readable. Clicking on the chart makes it bigger!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHho6w_SZXabLhAnJxVDKOG0DDHSY-0PRMlfgAD0zDaIwzVkR5Hi8bP9FlI9iv2dmHHKxlls1K3mhCpZzfSDXwszrJH-3tUDQ8wh0GJhW5l2u2KH1KIhGg8OFj-9eCwmE4UPCQbnDnnNs/s1600/Assault+Chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHho6w_SZXabLhAnJxVDKOG0DDHSY-0PRMlfgAD0zDaIwzVkR5Hi8bP9FlI9iv2dmHHKxlls1K3mhCpZzfSDXwszrJH-3tUDQ8wh0GJhW5l2u2KH1KIhGg8OFj-9eCwmE4UPCQbnDnnNs/s640/Assault+Chart.png" width="640" /></a></div>
You can read through all of these statutes <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/ChaptersIndex/chaptIndex565.html" target="_blank">here, starting at RSMo 565.050. </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Bottom line: The new law expands prosecutors' ability to charge assault <b style="font-style: italic;">outside of school.</b> It does not increase prison penalties for children.</u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html#.WGLkXlUrLIU" target="_blank">I wrote a follow-up post to this about the juvenile system</a>, which is where almost all kids would end up for an assault charge. These assault laws we're talking about are for the adult system. A child would need to be prosecuted as an adult - which would require a judge's approval - to even be at risk of a felony conviction.<br />
<br />
But let's go worst-case-scenario here anyway.<br />
Today, a kid fighting at school technically can be prosecuted for a Class D felony. Starting January 1, that kid can be prosecuted for a Class E felony.<br />
<br />
That means the kid gets a better deal in 2017, right? No.<br />
<br />
Today, <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55700000162.html" target="_blank">Class Ds are the lowest form of felony and Class Es do not exist</a>. On January 1, <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55700000161.html" target="_blank">Class Es will be the lowest</a>. Both are punishable by up to 4 years in prison (<a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55800000112.html" target="_blank">today's law</a>; <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55800000111.html" target="_blank">2017 law</a>).<br />
<br />
However, today, <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55800000111.html" target="_blank">the potential fine for a kid convicted of a Class D felony is $5,000</a>. In 2017, <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55800000021.html" target="_blank">the potential fine for Class C, D, and the new E felonies will be up to $10,000</a>.<br />
<br />
So a kid who assaults someone in 2017 cannot be imprisoned for a longer time, but the kid could be fined more in 2017.<br />
<br />
There's one other portion of the new language that could be confusing on the surface. The new Assault in the third degree crime includes a provision requiring that if the victim is a "special victim," the punishment will be higher.<br />
What's a "special victim"? That's defined in another law (just to make it easier for everyone to figure out). Under <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500000021.html" target="_blank">RSMo 565.002.14</a>, "special victim" is defined as a:<br />
<ul>
<li>Law enforcement officer</li>
<li>Emergency personnel</li>
<li>Probation and parole officer</li>
<li>Elderly person</li>
<li>Person with a disability</li>
<li>Vulnerable person</li>
<li>Corrections officer</li>
<li>Highway worker</li>
<li>Utility worker</li>
<li>Cable worker</li>
<li>Mass transit employee</li>
</ul>
<div>
None of these folks look like kids, except "person with disability" for some kids, and maybe "vulnerable person". What's a vulnerable person? </div>
<div>
Another law! <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/55600000611.html" target="_blank">RSMo 556.061.50</a> defines a vulnerable person as: "any person in the custody, care, or control of the department of mental health" receiving services. This same definition is used in the <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/63000000051.html" target="_blank">mental health statutes</a>, and it's the same definition for the soon-to-be-deleted laws regarding assault on vulnerable people (<a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/56500002102.html" target="_blank">see this one</a> for an example).</div>
<div>
Kids are not automatically vulnerable people under this definition. So just because a kid beat up another kid does not mean the punishment will be higher. If a kid assaults another kid who has a disability, then the assault charge could be increased.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, in general, the potential prison punishment for a kid in 2017 will be the same in 2016 when it comes to an assault charge for "knowingly" causing physical injury. (What is "physical injury"? Read <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">this post about its redefinition</a>.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Does this mean prosecutors no longer have the flexibility to charge a kid with a misdemeanor?</div>
<div>
No. Those stories are false. In 2017, a prosecutor can file an Assault in the fourth degree charge. Today, that same charge is called "Assault in the third degree." It's true that Assault in the third degree in 2017 will be a felony. That's why in 2017 there will be a new level of assault that does not exist today called Assault in the fourth degree.<br />
<br />
See the chart above. Today's Assault 3rd is almost the exact same thing as 2017's Assault 4th!</div>
<div>
<u><br /></u></div>
<div>
<u>The only major difference in how the assault law is defined in 2017 versus 2016 is that prosecutors will have more flexibility to charge people <i style="font-weight: bold;">outside of schools </i>with appropriate criminal violations. The new law does not put a special focus on kids. It puts a new focus on those outside of school.</u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Prosecutors can technically go after kids, sure. I had the fortune of having a few other fine officers of the court - including prosecutors - send me notes as I was working on this, and all of them told me it would be silly and very hard for prosecutors to go after kids for fighting at school, especially on a felony charge, without some showing that the kid viciously attacked someone, or at least intended to. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's what the law seems to say too. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Prosecutors have to be given some flexibility in the law to decide what charges to file. Every situation is different. So yes, the new law, just like the old one, gives prosecutors the power to seek to incarcerate a kid for four years for an assault under some circumstances. In 2017, the prosecutor can also seek a fine of up to $10,000, which is more than the $5,000 the prosecutor can currently try to get.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But that does not mean that every kid in a fight will be sent away or fined exorbitantly. Prosecutors, the court, and juries play huge roles in determining what the punishment should be, and defense attorneys get to put on their cases as well. And remember: <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html#.WGLkXlUrLIU" target="_blank">Almost all of these cases are dealt with in juvenile court, not in adult criminal court</a>. Kids are not saddled with felonies in juvenile court.</div>
<br />
Many of us who work with kids know that they face a lot of challenges, including in the justice system. But we need to identify the real problems, not become distracted by fake ones created by distressingly negligent members of the media.<br />
<br />
The media reports about the change in Missouri's laws are not only overblown. They are deceptively incendiary. I could not find one article that included any kind of investigative comparison of the new laws with the old. This failure is inexcusable, and not only because it does a great disservice to the public who rely on these reporters to do their jobs.<br />
<br />
These stories have taken advantage of a group of folks who are subject to grave inadequacies in our judicial system. There is no question that far too many kids are caught up in a system that too often does not treat them fairly. But, instead of talking about the real issues underlying the school-to-prison pipeline, these media outlets are inciting panic, which will inevitably dissuade folks from joining an important fight when they realize this story of terrifying change actually has no merit.<br />
<br />
The more the boy cried wolf, the less people listened.<br />
<br />
All of these reports seem to trace back to the <a href="http://www.hazelwoodschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=43&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=8231&PageID=1" target="_blank">Hazelwood School District's pronouncement</a> that the law is changing in 2017 to allow fighting kids to be charged with felonies. Ferguson-Florissant <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nn7EFmPqtU" target="_blank">put out a scary video</a> saying 2017 could bring felony charges. Well, those felony charges are available today too.<br />
<br />
I don't know exactly when Hazelwood put up this notice (I know it was at least a couple of days ago, before this whole thing blew up online). This notice, just like all the reports that followed it, make it seem that 2017 is going to be drastically different from 2016, that we must act immediately to save our kids.<br />
<br />
These articles are right about one thing: We need a sense of urgency around our kids. But they are wrong about almost everything else.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if these school districts put out these incorrect messages because of a mistake, or if school officials were trying to use the uncertainty that comes with change to scare kids into better behavior. Whatever it is, these school districts need to correct the mistake.<br />
<br />
Kids are not more susceptible to ADULT prosecution for assault as a result of the change in the assault laws. If you are a parent or kid facing that prospect, call an attorney. <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
We cannot afford to destroy the work a lot of folks are doing by discrediting their efforts through suspect reporting and school notices.<br />
<br />
There is a school-to-prison pipeline. It must be broken. We must tell the real story about how it works so we can make that happen.<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouris-new-assault-laws-juvenile.html#.WGLkXlUrLIU" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on the juvenile justice system</a>.)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/12/missouri-assault-law-new-definition-of.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on the redefinition of "physical injury."</a>)<br />
(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA9G1VYcyKo" target="_blank">Click here for our explanatory video</a>.)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/school-assault-reporting-requirements.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on school district reporting requirements.</a>)<br />
(<a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2017/01/missouri-harassment-law-and-kids.html" target="_blank">Click here for our blog post on the harassment law</a>.)<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross is a former Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He graduated from Washington University School of Law. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This blog post is not meant to provide legal advice. If you are in need of legal assistance, please contact an attorney.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Elad Gross, J.D.<br />
President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a><br />
<br />Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-35236851449688563802016-12-22T06:53:00.000-08:002016-12-22T07:56:56.422-08:00Happy Holidays from the EEC: Two Stories, a Brief Data Dive, and a Happy EndingI was BLOWN-AWAY honored to have folks choose the Education Exchange Corps as their nonprofit for holiday donations!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6DX_v3eQ66CTPzyfX3dcJKrohrn2r4uaOkG3xICdPtIxsKsXAtZhfLidLDCzjKEfBblmVk4w49I0yvDbCMK0maJewYfJeKt7PgKO5JrGBDa3BHwzfes38BCVFNc2fJYe1PHdTSio09s/s1600/20160728_131504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6DX_v3eQ66CTPzyfX3dcJKrohrn2r4uaOkG3xICdPtIxsKsXAtZhfLidLDCzjKEfBblmVk4w49I0yvDbCMK0maJewYfJeKt7PgKO5JrGBDa3BHwzfes38BCVFNc2fJYe1PHdTSio09s/s320/20160728_131504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An international litigator making her argument to a skeptical<br />
Federal Judge Charles Shaw.</td></tr>
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With your help, we're able to run our Summer Leadership Academy in North St. Louis City so that it's free for families. That means a great group of kids K-12 learns how to run the world, high school students earn a summer paycheck and receive financial advice, and parents have a safe place for their kids to go during a time when there is not much accessible programming.<br />
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There are some folks out there who do not know what we do and why we do it, so that's why we <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/11/giving-tuesday-and-education-exchange.html#.WFvNgVUrLIU" target="_blank">post about all of it</a> and the additional services we're exploring too!<br />
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A lot of people ask, "Why do you put so many things in your fanny pack, Batman? Sounds like you do a lot of things."<br />
Batman says, "Because I need a lot of ways to go POW on a bad guy."<br />
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We started out 9 years ago focusing on education. Academic performance was low, and academic skills are taught in the classroom, so the problem must be in schools... EUREKA! Nine years later, that explanation doesn't come close to doing it.<br />
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The challenges in education are a comprehensive problem. And a comprehensive problem demands a comprehensive solution.<br />
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Allow me to tell you a story. (Actually, I would like to tell you two stories. The first one is frustrating, but I promise the second one will pick you right back up. So, go grab some hot chocolate, buckle up, and read along.)<br />
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I'm meeting with folks at a school, as I often do. We're sitting around a table, talking about the challenges a school is facing and ways the community can support it.<br />
Half the room is used for storage, and some electronic thing in a back corner is constantly making noise. The other half of the room is our meeting space. After a while, you get used to the noise.<br />
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Within this meeting space, there's a bulletin board. Papers line the board. Papers with graphs all over them showing all sorts of data. Attendance. Performance on a standardized test. Performance on other tests. Different subjects. Different colors. All the things.<br />
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At some point, these graphs come up in discussion. This school, like so many others, needs to see academic performance increase. One of the graphs shows how many children are proficient in different subjects.<br />
The numbers are in the high teens or low twenties.<br />
One of the community members asks, "What's a comparable number? Is this normal?"<br />
Staff: "Within a few points, yes. We're very close to what the other schools around us are doing, and so much can vary quickly because of the small class sizes."<br />
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The meeting moves on, the discussion going to strategic needs and community assemblies. But I'm just looking at those numbers. I've seen them before, but, for some reason, they're sticking pretty hard now.<br />
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Several minutes pass. "I don't think we should postpone any of the work we want to do," I say. "There's obviously something deeply wrong. These numbers mean that on a good day, 70-80% of kids are not proficient at reading."<br />
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The staff member nods her head, but in the way like a teacher does when she knows another mind is making the journey into the neighborhood she lives in.<br />
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"There's got to be more done than what this school and staff can do," the nodding continues. "So I want to know why are kids leaving this school so much. You said that only three kids in this school have been here for all grade levels, and they're doing better than most of the other students here. Why are folks moving so much? What do they need to stay?"<br />
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"They're leaving because they don't have a home to stay in. They're in transition," says the staff. "So that means they don't have money to afford staying here, or they're living with a relative, and they have to move. This neighborhood especially sees a lot of people moving in and out."<br />
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"What do they need? Short-term money?"<br />
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"There are organizations that already provide emergency funds and that are focusing on attendance and keeping kids in school. But it's not working. It's too big of a problem. It's economics."<br />
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It's economics in a lot of places in St. Louis City.<br />
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First, let me give you a comparison point: Clayton, a well-off municipality that borders the city.<br />
Here's how Clayton compares to St. Louis City in standardized test scores:<br />
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In Clayton, the vast majority of kids are proficient. In the City, the opposite is true.<br />
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The individual school data shows an even deeper problem for the City. Clayton kids get better as they move up in grade level. Clayton's lowest score is 54.2% proficient in one subject at one elementary school. That's averaged out by way higher scores in higher grade levels.<br />
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In the City, 29 tests showed that at least 90% of kids taking the tests were not proficient in the subject material. Another 23 tests were inconclusive because not enough kids sat for the test in one school for it to count. Of those scoring below 10%, one of those tests was done at a high school and five were done at the middle school level. Unlike Clayton, low scores are present in upper grade levels too.<br />
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Overall, 77 scores were below 20%. 155 scores were below 50%. Only 38 were at or above 50%.<br />
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There are so many tests because each school in the system is subjected to four tests, but these numbers demonstrate the widespread academic performance problems in the City. There are a few schools in the City that are performing tremendously high. The drop-off from those in high-performing schools to the rest is huge.<br />
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But it's not just schools. Any district facing the challenges of educating kids who are moving from one school to another, often multiple times during an academic year, will have these same problems.<br />
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It's economics. It's a lack of jobs. It's a lack of wealth. It's a lack of resources.<br />
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"But, Batman, per pupil spending is higher in the City than the average in Missouri!"<br />
That's true, but the City is also spending large amounts of money on transportation for a large number of kids and on building maintenance, including maintaining buildings that are no longer in use. A district once built to teach 80,000 kids now works with a bit over 20,000 kids. Just this week, the <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/facing-continued-enrollment-declines-st-louis-public-schools-will-close/article_ee81e451-ac93-58fc-9e14-0cf19af391f5.html" target="_blank">City chose to close two more schools</a>. These are not the same challenges a school like Clayton faces, and Clayton still spends more per pupil than the City.<br />
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The challenges kids face - and that their teachers face as a result - are monstrously big. The problems are interconnected, and attacking one particular problem area while neglecting others does not and has not done the job.<br />
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That's why we're trying to put a bunch of tools in the tool belt. A comprehensive problem needs a comprehensive solution.<br />
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Last story for today.<br />
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One of the high school students who worked for us this past summer found himself in a bad spot this fall. He was suddenly homeless and with no place to turn. He was not attending school, and he had lost confidence in his ability to go back. The job search wasn't going well. And he'd been involved in violence and came very close to losing his life.<br />
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It wasn't always like this. He told me once that, when he was a little kid, his artwork was honored by the Mayor of St. Louis. He always loved art. He still wanted to be an artist someday, if that day ever came.<br />
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He's a young man who knows that he's had to endure a whole lot, and he knows firsthand how these challenges can derail academic performance. He was staying in the same neighborhood the school I was talking about before serves. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigElad/posts/10207459945718891?pnref=story" target="_blank">I've written about all this kid had to go through</a>.<br />
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I met this young man because we decided not just to be a traditional education program. We saw a problem with youth unemployment, so we hired kids to work for us in the summer. I met this young man because the EEC tried to be more comprehensive and deal with a need as we saw it.<br />
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Because we met, he was able to call me. He had a place to stay for a few weeks. He had time to figure things out. And he got into Job Corps, where he is receiving housing and training in a trade, along with an education.<br />
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I spoke with him just the other day. He said everything is going great! He's learning welding. And he's also decided that he wants to get a college degree. Eventually, he wants to get involved in the local arts scene, maybe one day manage or own a gallery. And he wants to go back to his neighborhood and work with kids, to pay what he got forward. Never has he had a clearer picture of where he wants to go.<br />
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These are the kinds of results we can get when we care. We can build a world where kids who today are so often left to fail don't, where 20 percent proficient is flipped upside down because a kid is encouraged not just to learn, but to find a passion. These are the kinds of results we can get when we work across disciplines and organizations and divisions to offer access to opportunity for every child.<br />
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These are results we're seeing thanks to folks like you.<br />
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Happy holidays to you and yours. And thank you for supporting a better future for all of us.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Elad<br />
<br />
Elad Gross<br />
President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps<br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org">elad@edexco.org</a>Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-30926282645411515982016-11-29T14:19:00.003-08:002016-11-29T14:31:16.359-08:00Giving Tuesday and the Education Exchange Corps<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;">Happy</span> <span style="color: red;">Giving</span> <span style="color: #ff9900;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: black;">!</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We would be honored to be one of your recipient nonprofits today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's a lot of work to be done to make our home a fairer place for everyone. Here's what we're doing about it:</span></span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Planning our next Summer Leadership Academy to give kids a free and super awesome academic enrichment program, and to employ local high school students to run it;</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Working with partners to expand our Global Leadership Simulation game to the academic year;</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Boosting tech and entrepreneurship education through Hack4Hope;</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Providing mentorship to high school students;</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Developing a legal clinic in North St. Louis City to serve as a one-stop shop for families looking for more ways to give their kids access to real opportunity.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">You can help support all of that by donating here: </span><b style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1da1f2; outline: 0px;"><span class="m_4269805608224271094gmail-js-display-url" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><a class="m_4269805608224271094gmail-twitter-timeline-link" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://t.co/8AlqkQNxAr&source=gmail&ust=1480544187372000&usg=AFQjCNEzDeybTsHH-ztCKDo_Mpjq5PuvrQ" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/8AlqkQNxAr" rel="nofollow" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1da1f2; outline: 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/EECDonate">bit.ly/EECDonate</a>. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you do, tweet <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://twitter.com/EduXchangeCorps&source=gmail&ust=1480544187372000&usg=AFQjCNFJ7iXtTl5w061se9jGxZBICLxcjQ" href="https://twitter.com/EduXchangeCorps" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">@EduXchangeCorps</a> or post <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.facebook.com/EducationExchangeCorps&source=gmail&ust=1480544187372000&usg=AFQjCNHKXqJTjnuyyae267T18cqIFSb9_A" href="https://www.facebook.com/EducationExchangeCorps" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">on Facebook</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and we'll be sure to give you a shout-out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But what would a Giving Tuesday be if we didn't give something to you? Just for reading this email, here's a cute picture of a future president of the United States working out an international treaty with our special guests from the Missouri House of Representatives:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you'd like to read more about what we're doing, check out this <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.chsglobe.com/28627/features/elad-the-educator/&source=gmail&ust=1480544187372000&usg=AFQjCNHiWcPUbbHRh0ne_HBndU8MGbUZig" href="http://www.chsglobe.com/28627/features/elad-the-educator/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">recent article</a> written by one of our fantastic high school volunteers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy this Giving Tuesday!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sincerely Yours,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elad</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.edexco.org/" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.EdExCo.org</span></a></div>
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Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-32320495352787629102016-07-10T09:58:00.002-07:002016-07-10T11:17:55.725-07:00Education, Opportunity, and Now Employment!Hello Supporters and Friends!<br />
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I have something SUPER EXCITING to tell you.<br />
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Tomorrow, the 2016 Education Exchange Corps Summer Leadership Academy starts up in North St. Louis City. We're going to have kids, instructors, construction paper, and even granola bars!<br />
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Now that's pretty exciting. But I have another exciting thing to share....<br />
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For the first time, most of our instructors are going to be late high school and college-aged kids. <br />
And we are going to pay them. With money!<br />
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Let me tell you why that's pretty cool.<br />
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Poverty is a trap that does its best to keep people in it. Three huge areas of concern are education, access to opportunity, and employment. This summer, we are addressing all of those issues.<br />
<b><u><br />Education</u></b><br />
Our program lasts for three weeks in the summer. It's in the summer because oftentimes kids from families with less money can't afford to do summer stuff. Sometimes, those kids just have to sit at home, their mind-matter turning into a slushy fluff. Research has found that a lot of the academic achievement gap may be caused by the aptly named "summer learning loss."</div>
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We do academic activities with kids in the summer to fight summer learning loss. Like have kids launch rockets to another planet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">The K-1st graders boldly went where no kid had gone before.</i></td></tr>
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<b><u>Opportunity</u></b><br />
We structure our program to put kids in charge of the world. Our Summer Leadership Academy is a deep simulation with a big board where our young leaders run governments. They trade with each other, rebuild after monsoons, construct roads, explore space, and, sometimes, go to war with other countries. Especially the 3rd graders. They will not hesitate to use force. <br />
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We also have a bunch of special guests who play a role in the game and help the kids make decisions.<br />
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The whole summer, we don't tell kids what to do. They make the decisions. They learn to lead. They learn how to be empowered in their own lives, they come up with ideas to make change in their communities, and we support them. They discover how to open up doors to opportunity.<br />
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<b><u>Employment</u></b><br />
Unemployment and underemployment is a big problem in areas affected by poverty. Teen unemployment is particularly high, especially among black youth. Every time I hang out with a high school kid, I get asked about jobs.<br />
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Well, let's make some jobs!<br />
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Many kids work to help out their families or to feel empowered. Sometimes, just having some spending money can go a long way. And acting as a national adviser at the coolest summer program ever looks awesome on a resume. Plus our paid staff will receive fun, not-at-all-boring financial training, and they'll be meeting some great special guests with some pretty cool jobs in the real world.<br />
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This summer, our special guests include: several Assistant Attorneys General, a federal judge, a public health expert, a news reporter, a communications specialist, elected government officials, nonprofit directors, a legal secretary, police officers, voter organizers, civic educators, and scientists!<br />
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The challenges our young leaders will face include: global climate change, human rights, Candy Pox (our version of Zika) and the Olympics, sugar terrorism, Catapultimate WMDs, Brexit, protests, and civil rights. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">Blerch, the leader of the sugar terrorists.</i></td></tr>
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SEE!? This is SUPER EXCITING. <br />
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You know what else is SUPER EXCITING? You can help us do all of this.<br />
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<a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=qETYRiSSOexHfuNr7FrPG0ace5syU3eHnK87Gx1n-y3I32OnqQz3Oyb8E3a&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d64813b57e559a2578463e58274899069" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhmmustiOM92OK17V65nQajeaZzYBhRuJ-tEQeHUuZn2RpJbH4zjEZwx07gg0ivmqs97gB3zUIIzGuipwrrfEAk8SDO9x_Lk1QQ67P62iyp5NlZgeKrHmfCDeYFh2M5CemDw9BnyM-sluWYFVoyIwhYod3_gg=s0-d-e1-ft" /></a><br />
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When you donate, you're doing some awesome things for St. Louis.</div>
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1) You're helping teens get job skills.<br />
2) You're helping kids learn how to run the world.<br />
3) You're giving kids a creative learning environment that purposefully empowers them.<br />
4) You're enabling us to expand the program so we can reach more kids for more time, help teachers think of ways to empower their students in their classrooms, and bring kids of diverse backgrounds together so we can help end division and build a fairer home for everyone.<br />
5) Granola bars. They are so good.<br />
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Press the button. Change the world.<br />
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<a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=qETYRiSSOexHfuNr7FrPG0ace5syU3eHnK87Gx1n-y3I32OnqQz3Oyb8E3a&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d64813b57e559a2578463e58274899069" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhmmustiOM92OK17V65nQajeaZzYBhRuJ-tEQeHUuZn2RpJbH4zjEZwx07gg0ivmqs97gB3zUIIzGuipwrrfEAk8SDO9x_Lk1QQ67P62iyp5NlZgeKrHmfCDeYFh2M5CemDw9BnyM-sluWYFVoyIwhYod3_gg=s0-d-e1-ft" /></a><br />
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Thanks for your support. Together, we are building a better future for all of our kids.<br />
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Sincerely Yours,<br />
Elad<br />
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Elad Gross<br />
President and CEO<br />
Education Exchange Corps <br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a> <br />
314-753-9033<br />
<br /></div>
Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-87579094511946272402016-06-29T05:26:00.001-07:002016-06-29T05:56:28.887-07:002016 EEC Wish ListOur 2016 Summer Leadership Academy starts on July 11!<br />
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We are still looking for <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2016/04/call-for-volunteers-2016-summer.html#.V3J4amgrLIU" target="_blank">volunteers to work with our kids</a> as they deal with global crises. This year's crises include Zika and the Olympics, Brocoland's Brexit, and Planet-Destroying Catapults!</div>
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We also have a Wish List of school supplies and books (check it out below).</div>
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If you're interested in volunteering or in donating, send me an email at <a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a> or call 314-753-9033.</div>
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We'll update the Wish List as we get commitments. You can scroll down within the Wish List too!</div>
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Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com95tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-66637338392613485132016-04-04T02:57:00.004-07:002016-04-05T03:42:29.007-07:00Call for Volunteers: 2016 Summer Leadership AcademyWhat is a country to do when it has the least amount of money but the largest number of people in the world?<br />
It invests in education because "if you can get your education, you can get a good job, get paid, and pay your taxes."<br />
At least, that's what this country does when it's run by middle school students.<br />
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Last year, kids from kindergarten through high school spent three weeks running a world together at the Education Exchange Corps' Summer Leadership Academy. And we're back!<br />
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We will again hold this program in the Hyde Park neighborhood in North St. Louis City in July.<br />
We run this program in the summer because, without it, many kids struggle to find academically engaging activities and a steady source of food. Our program is free for kids and families.<br />
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<b> When: </b>July 11-29; 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Monday - Friday</div>
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<b> Where: </b>Most Holy Trinity School and Academy</div>
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1435 Mallinckrodt Street</div>
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St. Louis, MO 63107</div>
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<b> What: </b>EEC 2016 Summer Leadership Academy</div>
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We need your help to run the program.<br />
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<b><u>You can volunteer. </u></b><br />
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Serve as a national adviser, working with a group of our young leaders to help them make decisions as they confront global crises like armageddon asteroids, trade markers for billions of dollars, and sign international treaties.<br />
This is a great opportunity for those interested in expanding their teaching skills through a highly dynamic experience. We offer ongoing training in lesson-planning and managing an academic environment that empowers students.<br />
We have both full- and part-time opportunities available, as well as longer term volunteer positions.<br />
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Serve as a special guest. We invite members of the community to spend time with our young leaders on at least a one-time basis, moving from country to country to answer questions that the leaders have about specific topics. We coordinate with our special guests so you can visit at a time and for a topic that would work best for you. Our young leaders love having members of the community visit, in large part because it shows the community cares.<br />
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<b><u>You can spread the word.</u></b><br />
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Let your friends know about our efforts to give every child real opportunity. Ask if someone you know is available this summer to volunteer as a national adviser or a special guest. And send them our way!<br />
If you would like one of us to speak to a group you are a part of, please let us know.<br />
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<b><u>You can donate.</u></b><br />
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We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We rely on donors to sustain our programming. Any amount counts. And we've made it easy to donate. We have a big donate button on this page and on our website, or you can <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=Lhsw2siXXOW6wRMcNmnO3fadwc1v9xkHgfIofXXq06hLJkStMoqRFv8BMkO&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d6625bf1e8bd269586d425cc639e26c6a" target="_blank">click here!</a><br />
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To get involved, please visit our website at <a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a> or email me at <a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a>.<br />
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We are very excited for this summer. Check out our preview video below.<br />
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Together, we can make St. Louis a better home for everyone.<br />
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<i>Elad Gross</i><br />
<i><a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a></i><br />
<br />Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-57764493605954436722016-03-14T03:58:00.002-07:002016-03-14T03:58:43.611-07:00Teaching in the UnknownI was supposed to command the spaceship to do something, but I had little idea how. It sat there, crashed through a huge spiked rock, and I was like Will Smith in Independence Day. Except my spaceship was pixelated and existed only on my computer screen, and, instead of pulling levers, I was supposed to pull code from the left side of the screen to the right side.<div>
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Yesterday, we had our March in-person meeting with our <a href="http://www.hack4hope.org/" target="_blank">Hack4Hope</a> kids. I have neglected posting here for a good long while because of all the projects we have going on. Hack4Hope is a project led by an awesome team of folks to introduce kids to coding, technology, and entrepreneurship through a Hackathon (a weekend full of kids coming up with awesome technology and business ideas to make the world better) and a follow-up academy teaching skills the kids can build on.</div>
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Each month, we meet with our kids to go over the assignment from the past month, help them start on the next one, and have a bit of fun along the way. The kids go online to see their assignments and access activities that introduce them to coding. Yesterday, we went over the programming language Java together. </div>
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While I was preparing to help lead the class, I remembered reading about a <a href="http://www.alice.org/index.php" target="_blank">program called Alice</a>. It's an interactive program you can download that lets users drag-and-drop a whole bunch of scenery and characters to make a story, and the process familiarizes users to coding.</div>
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I know very little about coding. When I started teaching years ago, that would have been bad news for me. I always thought I had to know more than my students so I could <i>teach</i> them. I thought it was my job to pass on knowledge to them. I lecture, they learn. Duh!</div>
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Folks, it's a new world. There's a ton of information out there, and, especially when it comes to technology, kids are in a position to know a lot more than us older people. </div>
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I don't know when it happened, but I realized I don't lead a class to impart information. I lead it to teach the kids <i>how</i> to lead it themselves, how to figure out solutions to their problems. I'm just there to set up the story. It's their job to tell it. And then, at the very end, I help them wrap it all up in a bow.</div>
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Yesterday, we were supposed to go over essay writing skills. I thought it was time to talk about the concept of story, and I did that by asking each kid to rethink the first sentence of the essays they had written. Then each kid posted a first sentence for an essay that we all talked about together.</div>
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We talked about dreams - crazy dreams! - and which dreams were the most memorable and why.</div>
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We talked about fiction.</div>
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We watched videos of the Pillsbury Doughboy.</div>
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We talked about how to hook a reader.</div>
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And then we moved on to Alice, that collection of coding gizmos and widgets that makes no sense without a story. We competed to see who could make the creepiest clip with Ms. Alice as the star. I competed along with them. We played the clips. I lost!</div>
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But we're coming back next time with more stories, stories on a screen and stories on paper, stories that draw emotion from the audience.</div>
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When you teach in the unknown, you'll naturally draw from that which you do know. And if you embrace your lack of knowledge and make your class a journey to find that knowledge, you'll find yourself teaching the most important lessons a kid can take home.</div>
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Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-24827449220725648062015-08-24T04:22:00.002-07:002015-08-24T04:31:24.435-07:00Day 4: War, Peace, and Espionage<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-76db382d-5816-e9ff-c98e-700639fe07cb"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A small, unmanned plane, equipped with what appear to be high-altitude cameras, crashed in central Brocoland. Brocoland’s Council of Scientists notified The Rock’s government. The Rock, in line with its historical policy of maintaining global neutrality, and in an effort to protect itself from accusation, notified the world about the plane crash. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Queen of Kittissippi claimed ownership of the plane and demanded its immediate return. Kittissippi announced they were using the plane to track a group of fugitive mice and to observe local bird migratory patterns.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world knew that Kittissippi often sells its intelligence services to other countries. Who could have secretly been looking at Brocoland?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Adding to the international tension, the world had its first casualty of global climate change. <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-2-global-climate-change-and-art-of.html#.VdqcKflVhBc" target="_blank">Three days earlier, the world powers came to an agreement on climate change and limiting marker usage</a> (because marker usage contributes to global warming, of course), but the countries did not enforce the limits they set. The Rock felt the effects and lost a significant amount of their coast to the ocean's bottomless depths. The clock continued to tick ever so steadily for The Rock and the world's coastlines.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The major powers also held the first global conference on war. The countries were given time within their delegations to make proposals on issues related to war and peace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The first proposal came from the one country without a military: Anyone's Land. They proposed that all countries disband their troops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Each country was given 90 seconds to come up with a vote. Some countries displayed their lack of effective governance structures, especially when leaders within countries disagreed with one another.Eventually, this proposal failed 3-1. The only support came from Anyone's Land.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The second proposal came from Teen Land, which proposed what sounded like a global war. This proposal also failed 3-1, with Teen Land voting against its own proposal. The 3rd Graders voted for war.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRoOlljE9lI3Ru8jyPdXWmdMHp_WbOqEH-ZOG0hCJiCXcyoJRNjEBUodY4C2JDdp-WhiEd7D15DighwiVzzeAlCbxb32YhFuX4ZdesrWsjYW-BcbHKKYyBU0wzPAtEpa8Rui6yTH3l7kz/s1600/IMG_20150709_133749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRoOlljE9lI3Ru8jyPdXWmdMHp_WbOqEH-ZOG0hCJiCXcyoJRNjEBUodY4C2JDdp-WhiEd7D15DighwiVzzeAlCbxb32YhFuX4ZdesrWsjYW-BcbHKKYyBU0wzPAtEpa8Rui6yTH3l7kz/s320/IMG_20150709_133749.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The First Global Summit on War<br />Resolution</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Tiger then proposed a resolution. A 1st grader raised her hand and said: "Peace is good." The countries unanimously adopted this value statement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps emboldened by the passage of Tiger's proposal, Anyone's Land proposed the establishment of an international court of war, with The Rock as the judge, to force those who would declare war into involuntary servitude to the world.This proposal failed 3-1, with support only from Anyone's Land. However, one of The 3rd Graders dissented from his delegation and wanted the world to know he supported creating a war court.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Only minutes later, The 3rd Graders dispatched three ships and three armies toward Kittissippi, revealing that they had made a secret agreement with Kittissippi for intelligence on Brocoland, but that the deal had not gone well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Teen Land, after revealing and publicly apologizing for spying on their people's phone calls and emails, announced that they shut down their domestic spying program. Teen Land also announced a military alliance with Anyone's Land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyone's Land, after making their own public apology for dumping chemicals in a stream that caused physical mutations of some of their citizens, continued their national strategy of selling off supplies and saving money.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Tiger sent a ship and an army in the direction of Anyone's Land... or maybe they were headed for Brocoland....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tiger also seemed to have made some type of censorship agreement with a few other countries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />And so, on the day the world agreed that peace is good, militaries were on the move, the world was on edge, and the planet seemed to be a less peaceful place. Perhaps the next day would see greater unity as the world powers were slated to compete at the global Olympics.</span></div>
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<i><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-1-and-children-shall-lead.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1: And the Children Shall Lead</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-2-global-climate-change-and-art-of.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 2: Global Climate Change and the Art of Negotiation</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-3-final-frontier.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 3: The Final Frontier</span></a></i></div>
Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-82718189886292896492015-08-16T12:46:00.001-07:002015-08-16T21:07:54.889-07:00Day 3: The Final Frontier<i>In the summer of 2015, a group of about twenty students in grades K-11 undertook a monumental task: run the world. Every decision - from trade to competition to war - was made by these young leaders. They could approach adults for advice, but the young leaders ultimately built this world. This series of blog posts documents how a group of children dealt with some of our planet's greatest challenges.</i><br />
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Space: the final frontier.<br />
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Since the dawn of humanity, people have looked up to the sky and wondered. What's out there? Are we alone? And will we ever know?<br />
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Decades ago, the world watched as a human set foot on the planet’s moon. But never before had a human walked on another planet.<br />
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Perhaps now was the time. <br />
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The countries of the world began a space race to reach another planet. The launch window was short - right in between the end of recess and parent pick-up time - and time was of the essence.<br />
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The day before, we had our first international trade deal between Teen Land and Anyone's Land. Glue sticks were involved in the trade.<br />
You might be asking, why would a country trade for glue sticks?<br />
The different countries had a different collection of supplies. Some had glue sticks, paper, and pencils. Others had pens, markers, and duct tape. Some had water colors. Others had paint brushes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teen Land had soda, water, and baking soda, but no vinegar,<br />
mentos, or corks!</td></tr>
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On this day, some countries had diet Coke. Some had mentos. Some had vinegar. Some had backing soda. Some had corks. Some had empty water bottles. Some had foam board.<br />
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Soon after the start of the day, trade talks began in earnest. The leaders had to design a rocket, determine how to power it, secure the parts needed to make the rocket, and build the contraption before 1:15 PM! And, knowing that the launch could take a while, the countries had to be ready to submit their national decisions within minutes of returning from the launch.<br />
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Finally, the countries had an opportunity to make national flags with our resident art teacher. And the flags were very impressive!<br />
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The day flew by, and it was time for the countries to have their rockets fly up.<br />
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In order to send a crew to another planet, the countries had to launch a rocket that went straight up into the air. The rocket that went the highest would reach the other planet first.<br />
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The first country to launch their rocket would be The 3rd Graders.<br />
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After much sputtering due to a faulty plug, The 3rd Graders' rocket failed to launch.<br />
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The next group was Teen Land.<br />
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Teen Land tried to reverse engineer a mentos-soda combination by pouring the soda onto the mentos. But this demonstrated the secret of the mentos-soda "reaction" - it is in fact not a chemical reaction, but a physical one in which the mentos, when dropped into soda, break the surface tension of the liquid and allow the carbon dioxide to fervently escape.<br />
Teen Land's rocket failed to launch.<br />
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The third group to go was Tiger.<br />
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Tiger had successfully bottled up a baking soda-vinegar reaction! Their rocket launched, giving all of humanity hope for the future of space exploration.<br />
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The final group to launch was Anyone's Land. Their rocket was called Anyone's Rocket.<br />
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Like so many countries before them, Anyone's Land failed to launch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcVFCyWptlmpyVVmiFudnvzZUbtIQ3iSleKaIRvo7wjpU4vWcLvOUDXo8GjaGNLrEyXPXGH7BjRvaLfnivz_wKomvhdnEwiTB1J6YFwNg7XO5wMGClbBs8vRjJCkKWryeI-g8NOwCMogG/s1600/Day+3+Flip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcVFCyWptlmpyVVmiFudnvzZUbtIQ3iSleKaIRvo7wjpU4vWcLvOUDXo8GjaGNLrEyXPXGH7BjRvaLfnivz_wKomvhdnEwiTB1J6YFwNg7XO5wMGClbBs8vRjJCkKWryeI-g8NOwCMogG/s320/Day+3+Flip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the third day, 3 of the 4 major countries deployed troops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tiger returned triumphant, having achieved perhaps humanity's greatest technological feat. But the joy in the world was soon put on hold. At the end of the day, the world saw The 3rd Graders, Teen Land, and Tiger deploy the first military forces.<br />
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<div>
Thanks to Tiger, for the first time ever, a human set foot on another planet. A
global space race in a world of scarcity accelerated trade, led to a
deeper understanding of what it means to have and have not, and pushed
countries to form militaries. In the end, the country of Tiger was the
only one able to carry the banner of their world onto another.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Although
Tiger's accomplishment was unparalleled, perhaps the greatest
accomplishment on this day was the fact that every country chose to
participate in the search for something out there. Even the world's poorest
country chose to pursue exploration into the unknown, without any
promise of reward.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The curiosity of humanity never burns brighter than
it does within the mind of a child.<br />
<br /></div>
Most of our
leaders also tasted defeat, and for some the experience was emotionally
overwhelming. Our fantasy world can feel real at times. But, at the end
of the day, we want our leaders to learn from their experiences. The
emotion shows an attachment, a passion that is unrequited by failure.
But failure is good. Failure teaches. And here, at our summer academy, of all places in the
real world, we want to be a safe place to fail. One reason why we are
graphing our countries' happiness is to show that even a sad country can
one day be happy again. We move forward without forgetting our past.<br />
<br />
So ended the third day. The fourth would bring a new level of intrigue to an increasingly tense world: Espionage.<br />
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<i><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-1-and-children-shall-lead.html" target="_blank">Day 1: And the Children Shall Lead</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-2-global-climate-change-and-art-of.html" target="_blank">Day 2: Global Climate Change and the Art of Negotiation</a></i><br />
<br />Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-73588986237801052262015-08-15T08:24:00.001-07:002015-08-15T08:24:56.883-07:00Day 2: Global Climate Change and the Art of Negotiation<i>In the summer of 2015, a group of about twenty students in grades
K-11 undertook a monumental task: run the world. Every decision - from
trade to competition to war - was made by these young leaders. They
could approach adults for advice, but the young leaders ultimately built
this world. This series of blog posts documents how a group of children
dealt with some of our planet's greatest challenges. </i><br />
<br />
Scientists agreed: The world was getting warmer. The ice caps of the planet were melting at a<br />
high rate. This melting was causing the sea levels to rise, which meant that beaches and lands at low elevation were slowly being submerged.<br />
<br />
Although weather is harder to predict than sea levels, many scientists also believed that the warmer temperatures were affecting the climate, causing the weather to be more extreme. They predicted that resulting droughts, famines, storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes could cause destruction and potentially large loss of life.<br />
<br />
Although rising sea levels could eventually affect the world’s largest
countries, the islands were feeling the effects already. Perhaps the most politically prominent of these islands, The Rock, announced that it would host an international conference on global climate change.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdD8oM6sTLAmKIUWV4UBosQS33TPaTjT2oXxWA5WinBKnXdqYVxPswHOLNp3BRrTMDeB4ifhRiivf4TNbOKggobIbH1gIx25LNnrOfwLcmjtDsahhOjUNjD-ygKtEUHZMvHHY6GXEZ9SO/s1600/IMG_20150707_101341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdD8oM6sTLAmKIUWV4UBosQS33TPaTjT2oXxWA5WinBKnXdqYVxPswHOLNp3BRrTMDeB4ifhRiivf4TNbOKggobIbH1gIx25LNnrOfwLcmjtDsahhOjUNjD-ygKtEUHZMvHHY6GXEZ9SO/s320/IMG_20150707_101341.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness Scores after the first day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Each morning, the countries receive feedback from their people based on the decisions the leaders made the day before. This feedback results in a "Happiness Score." When a country does not submit national decisions by the deadline, their country is in anarchy. On the first day, this happened to Tiger. Their people were not too happy.<br />
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On the second day, Teen Land (the country governed by our teenagers) and Anyone's Land (governed by 4th-6th graders) both had problems with a particularly pesky weevil problem that threatened to wipe out much of the countries' agricultural production. Anyone's Land, one of the poorest countries, had found a way to use very small but feisty organisms to control the weevil population, but they had little money to implement their solution.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_yHH66cfvdQLJ-kbVMr544fKdyCp6KZb0M-AlKi88z8jFWjzOIX6JXhIKoEOcLFsC70F4U1hDW26B2bNrK-LhJCLd4aQT_ghmXxlrNae28KyFmQzeXHrVw25LhHYPaR67Vh_0aygH8U7/s1600/IMG_20150707_100934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_yHH66cfvdQLJ-kbVMr544fKdyCp6KZb0M-AlKi88z8jFWjzOIX6JXhIKoEOcLFsC70F4U1hDW26B2bNrK-LhJCLd4aQT_ghmXxlrNae28KyFmQzeXHrVw25LhHYPaR67Vh_0aygH8U7/s320/IMG_20150707_100934.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone's Land discussing strategy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The 3rd Graders (the country managed by 2nd-3rd graders) discovered that markers were causing global warming! Tiger (governed by Kg-1st graders) really liked using markers.<br />
<br />
While countries rotated to work with our resident art expert to make passports, other delegations were hard at work conducting their first international negotiations.<br />
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Teen Land and Anyone's Land eventually reached a deal trading money for nematodes. But the problem of global climate change was yet unsolved.<br />
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So began the global conference on climate change. The Rock hosted the event, and all of the major countries sent delegations to attend. The countries' representatives were initially unsure about what they could do. It just so happens that none of the leaders of any of the countries had run a country before!<br />
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After a discussion about what could happen to the world if no one did anything, and after The 3rd Graders revealed that marker usage was causing global warming, the conversation started flowing. Somehow, the countries decided to have The Rock write up an agreement limiting marker usage to 30 minutes per day.<br />
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Some countries had no problem coming to such an agreement because they had no markers. But Tiger had a bit of a problem. Their people LOVED markers!<br />
The Rock started to parade the draft treaty from one country to the other, getting signatures from national leaders.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPkO5cYk9mGkN1_1_y67C9N1zzb15y8wV95GpE2S12PBGIZgEzotsWXA96U2phRY1DHEERpJVCTpDQM8ijy4WbROujXLhNuT9T00TXuOU8KMJuIABzN5ttCS9C6RiuBn4DE2R-OjLZkUF/s1600/IMG_20150707_102310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPkO5cYk9mGkN1_1_y67C9N1zzb15y8wV95GpE2S12PBGIZgEzotsWXA96U2phRY1DHEERpJVCTpDQM8ijy4WbROujXLhNuT9T00TXuOU8KMJuIABzN5ttCS9C6RiuBn4DE2R-OjLZkUF/s320/IMG_20150707_102310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger's oldest leader was concerned about limiting marker usage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But Tiger's government wasn't so sure they could sign the deal anymore. With only two members of Tiger's government present as the day was winding down, the kindergartener was all about limiting marker usage. But the 1st grader was not. She was quick to point out that their people loved markers. Even when she was faced with the possibility that animals could suffer (the people of Tiger really like their animals too), she thought the people just liked their markers too much to limit their usage.<br />
<br />
But this resistance crumbled when the leader of The Rock made a personal plea to Tiger to be the final signatory to the agreement.<br />
<br />
And so, at the end of the second day, the countries had agreed to a climate accord. All countries promised to limit their marker usage to 30 minutes or less per day.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5OKXwknzBsJ7-uKaFX2lG2o8mZj1uxcOocZrhgUVoHvDWw88hnuPL0_vtiT-1j7rHlYqt1mPzo4sVlV5_X_L3eiKxM1eY6LjKr0WOc5flTVFPuPDKO_EP9F7TtWPdSMPWixFfo693QBv/s1600/IMG_20150707_142428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5OKXwknzBsJ7-uKaFX2lG2o8mZj1uxcOocZrhgUVoHvDWw88hnuPL0_vtiT-1j7rHlYqt1mPzo4sVlV5_X_L3eiKxM1eY6LjKr0WOc5flTVFPuPDKO_EP9F7TtWPdSMPWixFfo693QBv/s320/IMG_20150707_142428.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Global Agreement on Climate Change.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But time would tell that, on this day, what the countries didn't do was more important than what they did do. They did not come up with a way to enforce their climate agreement. They did not include ways to monitor marker usage. They did nothing to make sure the country that was so dependent on markers - Tiger - would be given some kind of concession to encourage them to put down their markers.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Still, the countries started their journey into this brave new world with cooperative spirits. The next day would challenge all of that as the heat of global trade threatened to melt some of this good will away.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-1-and-children-shall-lead.html" target="_blank">Part 1: And the Children Shall Lead</a></i><br />
<br />Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-69109973145382240852015-08-12T06:57:00.003-07:002015-08-12T06:58:28.536-07:00Day 1: And the Children Shall Lead<i>In the summer of 2015, a group of about twenty students in grades K-11 undertook a monumental task: run the world. Every decision - from trade to competition to war - was made by these young leaders. They could approach adults for advice, but the young leaders ultimately built this world. This series of blog posts documents how a group of children dealt with some of our planet's greatest challenges.</i><br />
<br />
"Tiger!" answered the Kindergarteners and 1st graders. That was the name of their country. You see, a long time ago, a mystical tiger roamed the other lands of the world. Humankind hunted this majestic cat, almost to its extinction. Instead of accepting its destruction, this tiger left and settled in the land now managed by Kindergarteners and 1st graders. The tiger held a special place in Tiger society.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger making plans.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The 2nd and 3rd graders named their country, "The 3rd Graders." The name of the country may have provided a glimpse into the 2nd graders' historic subjugation and lack of full political power. Or perhaps it was in homage to the elders of the country's ruling class. In any event, the 3rd Graders formed a chaotic government consisting of multiple magnetic leaders holding divergent opinions. Their choice of the cheetahcorn as their national animal was a miraculous agreement in its own right.<br />
<br />
Anyone's Land was governed by the 4th-6th graders. The land didn't belong to just anybody. Rather, the country's name was a convenience for all people. Anyone's Land was actually called what anyone wanted to call it. Want to call it Paper World? Sure! Discovery Zone? Aside from potential trademark infringement, why not!? Two neighbors, living in the same country, could have very different names for the same mass of land they shared. The government of Anyone's Land required their citizens to attend college.<br />
<br />
Finally, Teen Land was managed by a group of 7th-11th graders. Teen Land was populated by teenagers only. Parents and other adults were not allowed to reside in the country. The stated purpose of this residential restriction was to allow the teenagers to focus solely on building successful lives. Upon turning 20-years-old, the Teen Land citizen was required to leave.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwXYtpFjL5-aAqxMJJAXMZTeOSDxu_OaCq9IvSYlCeZrKUVPYYKRT3RFZGjD1ykGyAX378CGhFK3HX7pYMyLEZf8izwBsjQN1STnpPUouKRKmGGkdwmvL71mSUDaL9jYOrLgfBCM4w3pf/s1600/IMG_20150706_124717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwXYtpFjL5-aAqxMJJAXMZTeOSDxu_OaCq9IvSYlCeZrKUVPYYKRT3RFZGjD1ykGyAX378CGhFK3HX7pYMyLEZf8izwBsjQN1STnpPUouKRKmGGkdwmvL71mSUDaL9jYOrLgfBCM4w3pf/s320/IMG_20150706_124717.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3rd Graders at work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the first day, the young leaders of the world built their countries. They named them, wrote their origin stories, considered the types of government they would run, and worked on some letters of the alphabet (OK, that last part was mostly just Tiger).<br />
<br />
They learned how many people lived in their countries and their national GDPs. This was selected randomly.<br />
<br />
The young leaders built and budgeted for schools, hospitals, and roads. They learned how much their people cared about cultural, scientific, and academic pursuits. They started to notice the distinction between themselves as a governing entity and the millions of people they represented.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQK1PKwfCc3KBlcZzzwT-UpnqjJ7TVNn9kvj6gnKGlvr9ULF_LCyArg2qjMhmPpvR1ajW-fhP11hrcKCNTT46XhYDarKvEH644xkPse9LfELhqLN9BE9glFzooObBjHz7B9vGpdNxk7ZH/s1600/IMG_20150706_124639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQK1PKwfCc3KBlcZzzwT-UpnqjJ7TVNn9kvj6gnKGlvr9ULF_LCyArg2qjMhmPpvR1ajW-fhP11hrcKCNTT46XhYDarKvEH644xkPse9LfELhqLN9BE9glFzooObBjHz7B9vGpdNxk7ZH/s320/IMG_20150706_124639.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leadership Library.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The young leaders were introduced to the Leadership Library, filled with donated and checked-out books containing the thoughts of the world's greatest thinkers. (Thanks to the wonderful people at the <a href="http://kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org/" target="_blank">Kirkwood Public Library</a> for helping us find our world's greatest thinkers!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the end of the busy first day, the young leaders had to turn in their national decisions and then take some time to reflect.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P7_u3nbyOjA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7_u3nbyOjA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Little did they know that crisis would strike the world on the very next day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>In our next blog post, we see how our young leaders dealt with the world's first challenge: Global Warming.</i><br />
<br />
<br />Elad Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09222835786867943184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-178852921894717242015-07-08T04:21:00.000-07:002015-07-08T04:21:23.887-07:00Just Two Days into ItJust two days into the Education Exchange Corps leadership academy, the young leaders have signed an international agreement on respect, a so-far unenforceable global compact on climate change restricting marker usage (human marker usage is directly linked to global warming say the scientists), and budgeted several government-run services.<br />
<br />
The global compact on climate change was in doubt just moments before its final signing. The last country, Tiger (run by K-1), really liked markers. They had a lot of markers and they meant a lot to their people. The government was deadlocked on what to do. Only two leaders remained at the end of the day, one in favor of limiting marker use, and the other opposed to the global agreement.<br />
One of the leaders' advisers asked about the suffering polar bears and the threat to plant life, and life in general. Still, the holdout would not budge.<br />
<br />
I asked the leaders, "How does your government break ties?" Silence. "Well, it looks like you have two options. You can figure out a way to break the tie..." [still silence] "or you can not make a decision now and see what happens..."<br />
"Yes," said the holdout. "We should do that."<br />
<br />
At that moment, I realized the world's marker problem was a lot realer than I thought.<br />
<br />
<br />Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-2380469664301818462015-06-15T18:19:00.000-07:002015-06-15T18:19:06.489-07:00(Nukes, Rocketships, and Nation Building) + Kids = ? (Or How We Made Our Leadership Game, Part III)ON THE FIRST DAY, the children shall lead.<br />
<br />
We've already posted about the <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-kids-rule-world-that-doesnt-mean.html#.VX9xpvlVhBc" target="_blank">physical design of the leadership game</a> and the <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-kids-rule-world-that-doesnt-mean_7.html#.VX9xmvlVhBc" target="_blank">beginning of the first day of the game</a>.<br />
Now for the rest of the game play.<br />
<br />
We last left you with four councils of kids, grouped by age, running four different countries. Some may have formed governments. Others may not be sure what to do. Either choice is fine in this game of learning and experimentation.<br />
<br />
But now, no matter how ready the young leaders are, it's time for the first Global Challenge.<br />
<br />
The first challenge is Nation Building. The young leaders will have 70 minutes to build schools, infrastructure, a transportation network, hospitals, and a military. At the same time, they will have opportunities to meet their international counterparts at different gatherings hosted by our high school students. The first discussions of trade will occur at this juncture.<br />
<br />
Seventy minutes may sound like a lot of time, but it will blow by quite quickly. During this time, our young leaders will:<br />
<ul>
<li>determine how to make decisions within each country</li>
<li>learn how to budget</li>
<li>set an education budget</li>
<li>set an infrastructure budget</li>
<li>set a healthcare budget</li>
<li>raise an army, air force, and navy</li>
<li>negotiate with other countries</li>
<li>establish trade deals and trade routes</li>
<li>measure possible troop movement using their maps and tape measures</li>
<li>consider national tax policy</li>
<li>draft and discuss their decisions</li>
<li>submit their national decisions before time runs out.</li>
</ul>
If a country does not submit their decisions on time, they will have forfeited their turn. Consider that our analog to a congressional-gridlock-created government shutdown.<br />
<br />
Once the national decisions are in hand, the Keepers of the Board (our wonderful high school students!) will move pieces on the board to reflect what each country has done. Every young leader watches.<br />
<br />
Having seen the results of their choices, each students goes to their notebook and reflects upon the experience.<br />
<br />
Then it's time to go home.<br />
<br />
<br />
Each day - with exceptions for Fridays and some other special events - will proceed by our Daily Schedule!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Daily Schedule</i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: -5.75pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="94"></col><col width="278"></col><col width="278"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="background-color: white; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #000000 0px; border-right: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-top: solid #000000 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="background-color: #ffffcc; border-bottom: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-left: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-right: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-top: solid #b2b2b2 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">K-3</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #ffffcc; border-bottom: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-left: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-right: solid #b2b2b2 1px; border-top: solid #b2b2b2 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4-12</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8:30-9:00</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #e6b9b8; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #b2b2b2 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast (Program to 9:30)</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9:00-9:15</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #f79646; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Morning Debriefing</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9:15-9:35</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #4f81bd; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Global Challenge and Domestic Demands</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9:35-10:15</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #00b050; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenge Training</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #c00000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenge Research</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10:30-11:00</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #b7dde8; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Country Time</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">11:00-11:30</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #ccc1d9; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Global Time</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">11:30-12:00</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #e6b9b8; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">12:00-12:30</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #d7e4bc; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Recess</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">12:30-1:00</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #00b050; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenge Questions</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #c00000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenge Questions</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1:00-1:40</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: yellow; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Global Time + Country Time + Decisions</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-top: solid #3f3f3f 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1:40-2:00</span></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #f79646; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #3f3f3f 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal Reflections</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Each morning, after receiving updates from the high school students running the international organizations, our young leaders will meet with a new Global Challenge. Every country will hear of the Global Challenge. But each country will also receive a Domestic Demand, known only to the country the Demand affects.<br />
These Domestic Demands are not dissimilar to Global Challenges. Their effects are usually more locally-centered, but they may not stay that way. The leaders can choose to share the details of their Domestic Demands with others, or they may keep them secret.<br />
<br />
Because of the secretive nature of these demands, we cannot reveal them to you. But we will tell you they'll challenge students on multiple levels. <br />
<br />
We also can't reveal too many details about the Global Challenges, but we can give you the categories!<br />
Here is the tentative schedule of Global Challenges our young leaders will face:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Global Challenges</i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: -5.75pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="173"></col><col width="173"></col><col width="173"></col><col width="173"></col><col width="173"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="background-color: #fbd5b5; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #fbd5b5; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #fbd5b5; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #fbd5b5; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #fbd5b5; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="background-color: yellow; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nation Building</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #00b050; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Global Warming</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #ffc000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Space Race</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #93cddc; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CONFIDENTIAL</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #7030a0; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Olympics</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="background-color: #ffc000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Water Scarcity</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #93cddc; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nuclear Proliferation</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #ffc000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Spiraling Satellite</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #93cddc; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Small Pox</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #7030a0; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Science Expo</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="background-color: #ffc000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Computer Virus</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #93cddc; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Solar Flare</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #ffc000; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ozone Depletion</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #00b050; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CONFIDENTIAL</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #7030a0; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">World’s Fair</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
On some of these days, we will have Special Guests come and present a Global Challenge and then visit each country as the leaders wrestle with what to do.<br />
<br />
Each day, our volunteers will facilitate the interactions within and between countries. They will serve as advisers. They will help train our youngest leaders through more directed instruction, and they will assist our older leaders through guided research. They are the folks who make this game work and who make sure our kids have a great time.<br />
Without them, our game is just a piece of paper sandwiched between some metal and plastic.<br />
With them, <a href="http://www.edexco.org/volunteer.html" target="_blank">our game becomes a world of learning</a>.<br />
<br />
And so our kids learn. We will have some instructional periods, but almost all of the learning happens during student-to-student interactions.<br />
<br />
We believe school should be a place where students are encouraged to take responsibility, where teachers feel free to be creative. School should be a place where students can fail and then grow from their mistakes.<br />
<br />
That's why we've created this elaborate world: So kids can learn how to run theirs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross</i><br />
<i>President and CEO</i><br />
<i>Education Exchange Corps</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a></i><br />
<i><a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-5642754007484394462015-06-13T08:20:00.003-07:002015-06-13T08:27:58.044-07:00Yesterday was the first time I ever had to bail a student out of jail.<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday was the first time I ever had to bail a student
out of jail.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got one of those phone calls on my cell phone – the kind
asking me if I will accept it after hearing the name of the caller. I do a lot
of prisoner complaint cases, and at first I wondered how a prisoner got hold of
my number. But when the name of the caller came across the line, my stomach
started doing that unpleasant thing. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pressed “5” to accept the call. I got out a notebook to
take notes. I assumed this would be the last time I talked to my student before
I could find a way to get him out (you only get one call, the TV told me), so I
tried to be detailed. But I felt limited by the warning message at the
beginning of the call telling me that everything would be recorded. I didn’t
want my student to incriminate himself. So the call was brief.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My student had been at the county jail overnight. He said he
would be transferred to the city jail that day – Friday – and was told he would
be staying there over the weekend and perhaps even later into the week because
he didn’t have the money to post bail. He was not looking forward to an
extended stay. He told me he had been jailed because he had an old charge for
riding the MetroLink without a ticket.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told him I’d look into it. I hung up and called the jail
holding my student. The lady there was very helpful, and she verified my
student’s story: He was being held for failing to pay a MetroLink ticket. He
had two old ones – one in the county, and one in the city. Because of his stay
in the jail, his debt to the county was considered fulfilled. But he still owed
the city time in jail, so the county would transfer him there later that day. I
was told bail was $150, with an additional $20 processing fee.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I drove to the county jail where I promptly got into the
wrong line in front of a visitors’ desk positioned right as you get past the
metal detectors. A lady in front of me asked me if I was a lawyer. I said yes,
at which point she started asking me a very long story-question about whether
the government was punishing her as a whistleblower. The line was moving
slowly, but thankfully fast enough so that at the end of the story I didn’t
have to reveal that I was one of the government lawyers she was so upset about.
Instead, we wished each other a nice day.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like I said, the visitors’ desk was the wrong one. The
officer in charge directed me to the end of the hallway to the bail window. I
knew from my phone call with the jail that I had to bring cash. I told the
officer there who I was looking for. She had to get permission from the city to
let him out on bail. After she did, I signed some paperwork and forked over the
money.<br />
<br />
(This is also when I found out that, at the county jail, inmates are not limited to one call. My student called me maybe five times.)<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked her how long it will take to get him out. She said
it could be “awhile.” As I wandered a bit in the hallway, I asked one of the
staff members at the visitors’ desk how long it would take. He said, “Today’s
Friday, so probably two to four hours.” I asked if I could leave a note. He
said maybe with the lady at the bail window, and he was right. I left my phone
number and a place to go if my student needed a phone. I drove back to work.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I got off the highway downtown, I got a call. My
student was free just 20 minutes after I had posted bail.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I turned around, picked him up, and brought him with me. I
asked about his life story – I hadn’t seen him in maybe half a year. In just
that short time, my student had left the state on a bus, became a homeless but
successful street performer, came back home, graduated high school, and was on
his way to college at the end of the summer. He was looking for a job, applying
to many places, but no one was willing to hire him, maybe because he could not
commit to work long-term.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His housing situation is uncertain. He doesn’t have many
clothes, and his increasingly dire situation led to some trouble with the
police. Not trouble enough to land him in jail. He was in jail solely because
of the MetroLink tickets.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He spent a night in jail and was threatened with another
several days there because he twice could not pay the $3 admissions fee to ride
the rails.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave him some money to get food. He hung out for a bit
while I worked. As a teacher, I kind of know when a kid is starting to get
bored, so I gave him a book on setting up classrooms for differentiated
learning and asked for his opinion on a section in chapter 4. He read it within
minutes and told me it didn’t make sense. He thought the author’s proposals for
dividing children based on ability created a segregated environment and
negated the possibility of students with different skill levels helping each
other. He thought that creating divisions leads to less cohesiveness, decreased
individualism, and a worrisome propensity for “groupthink.” (I am not prettying
up his words at all, in case you are wondering.) He reminded me of a principal I once worked with. I thought one day he might grow up to be like her.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave him the rest of the cash I took out to pay his bail
and jokingly told him to use it for the Metro. He was meeting his girlfriend
downtown and, at some point, he disappeared. He doesn’t have a phone, so I’m not
sure when I’ll see him again. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This young man, full of promise and intelligence and
emotion, feeling manipulated and unappreciated and undervalued, has to find a
way to survive for two months so he can make it to college. Instead of getting
help, he got jail. He is barely toeing the line between the chance for enormous
success and falling into a depressing cycle of poverty. But it seems that
poverty is the only one of these two options pulling him toward it, with claws
that always drag at those who would try to break away.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is where we are today in America.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>President and CEO</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Education Exchange Corps</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a></i></div>
Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-72751529648117203972015-06-09T16:34:00.000-07:002015-06-09T16:41:11.467-07:00Summer of Kid PowerThis summer, kids are taking over St. Louis.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Project One: Summer Leadership Academy</b></u><br />
First, we're really excited for our <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcing-education-exchange-corps.html" target="_blank">Summer Leadership Academy</a>. We were unable to hold our program for the <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-summer-that-wasnt.html" target="_blank">first time in our organization's history<i> </i>last summer</a>. But we worked hard this past year and found some amazing partners to help us hold our academy in Hyde Park yet again. Our program will put young leaders as the heads of countries in an immersive simulation, during which they will have to deal with global crises, domestic demands, and the plots of other countries in their world.<br />
<br />
Today, I took a lunch break to visit Hyde Park and find ways to get more kids to our program (we're halfway to our goal of 60!). We have call lists from past years, but many families move, and phone numbers change. That hasn't stopped us so far. Just today, I walked into a cafe to see two of our kids reading and playing video games. I showed them a picture of our board game. They're in!<br />
<br />
Every day feels like a scene out of the Blues Brothers: We're getting the band back together.<br />
<br />
If you're interested in volunteering, presenting on a topic of specialty to our students, or looking for ways to give more children in St. Louis better opportunities, email me. Right now.<br />
<a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Project Two: Hack4Hope Hackathon</b></u><br />
Second, we're proud to partner with so many organizations and a great core of dedicated souls to put on St. Louis's first <a href="http://www.hack4hope.org/" target="_blank">Hack4Hope Hackathon</a>.<br />
During the <a href="http://www.hack4hope.org/news/2015/6/8/x3tx7eyxlc8s6r2oizv183c9plxjey" target="_blank">weekend of July 10 - 12</a>, teenagers will be immersed in technology and business. They will meet local professionals offering mentorship, learn a bit about coding and business development, and pitch a concept to a panel of judges. Students will continue to build upon their ideas through the Hack4Hope Academy, a continuing educational and mentorship program that is slated to take place over six months.<br />
<br />
We've got some great partners on board, and we're looking for more. If you or your company is willing to sponsor the Hackathon, offer volunteers, or find other ways to collaborate, send me a message!<br />
<a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hack4hope.org/" target="_blank">www.Hack4Hope.org</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Together, we really can do a lot for our kids. Let us help you find a way for you to fit in.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross</i><br />
<i>President and CEO</i><br />
<i>Education Exchange Corps</i><br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/"><i>www.EdExCo.org</i></a><br />
<a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org" target="_blank"><i>Elad@EdExCo.org </i></a><br />
<br />Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-892600067962136562015-06-07T20:46:00.000-07:002015-06-09T16:25:29.957-07:00If Kids Rule the World, That Doesn't Mean They're Driving, Right? (Or How We Made Our Leadership Game) Part IISo far, <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-kids-rule-world-that-doesnt-mean.html" target="_blank">we've talked about how to build the physical parts of the game</a>. Now: How the game works.<br />
<br />
On the first day, our young leaders will assemble in the cafeteria. Sitting on a table in the middle of the vast room will be the game board, covered by a sheet.<br />
<br />
Why covered? Because humans of all ages are intrigued by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AZ13tJ7M84" target="_blank">mystery and surprise</a>.<br />
<br />
First, we introduce the adults to the young leaders. Then, we reveal the board.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnnJvqeurgKFuTQuA2Sb6QhIKPRaeh_TJeeL65PUnTP-k3QUKfuDUGxUm0o7E3HPDGqWICZkBxlqJwBxx2nGoduZXFpY6ebzsY5FfVWyyYXRW8I6RbEEtRn7Ms45EZG3Ty8UPAc8Briw/s1600/Artist%2527s+Rendering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnnJvqeurgKFuTQuA2Sb6QhIKPRaeh_TJeeL65PUnTP-k3QUKfuDUGxUm0o7E3HPDGqWICZkBxlqJwBxx2nGoduZXFpY6ebzsY5FfVWyyYXRW8I6RbEEtRn7Ms45EZG3Ty8UPAc8Briw/s320/Artist%2527s+Rendering.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist's rendering of excited children looking at the board.<br />
Thanks Anat!</td></tr>
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Behold the game board!<br />
(Like Babe Ruth calling his shot, I'm calling these reactions: "Whoa!" "I have one of these at home!" "That's not Earth...." "Yes it is!")<br />
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Everybody can touch the board now, but this will be the last time anyone and everyone can touch it.<br />
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Why touch it at all? Kids like touching things. Nothing we can do to help that.<br />
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Then, to foreshadow what will happen with this board, we drop a magnetic piece onto it and, by the power of physics, it stands straight up.<br />
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"WOW!" "COOL!" "Can I try!?" "Give me that!"<br />
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We'll do our best to stop everyone in between the latter two exclamations. Only moments ago, we announced the no-touching rule, but it takes many repetitions to teach a new habit. Now is the time to harness the excitement of something new. Leeway is granted.<br />
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We point out the four landmasses that are home to the world's major powers. And then it's time to divide.<br />
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Our leaders will be divided into four groups. These groups will be based on age. So we will have a country of 5-6-year-olds, 7-8-year-olds, 9-11-year-olds, and 12-17-year-olds. They will meet each other, meet their advisers (our fantastic volunteer instructors!), and immediately set about creating their world.<br />
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This first day is essential; first impressions are big. If you falter early on, you lose the crowd, and it's hard to get the audience back on your side. Kids feed off energy. This first moment must be full of excitement and adventure, and the leaders must start to get acquainted with the prospect that decisions in this world - their world - will be made by them.<br />
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So we'll start them off on this path of independence. We'll have a discussion about how to interact with each other. The words "respect" and "fair" will come up a lot.<br />
(Side note: We might write more about this topic later, but, although we all understand the importance of respect, this was personally the most troubling part of the game for me. We spent so much time designing a simulation for kids to find their own way, to learn the most effective way to act and behave based on their interactions with others. Demanding that our participants treat each other respectfully takes some of the freedom out of the simulation.<br />
But, we need to balance total freedom with the instructional purpose. We think that balance can be achieved through a conversation with students because they'll still be generating the ideas and underlying moral framework. In the end, many of the hardest decisions we made involved a balance between freedom and instruction.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/WnWq6EpyGt-bGQQfqVVs6a5RSWRA94EynAEYf2o8nrzo1Ivccd-49692TXp2oxl12FUrtg=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/WnWq6EpyGt-bGQQfqVVs6a5RSWRA94EynAEYf2o8nrzo1Ivccd-49692TXp2oxl12FUrtg=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During our first run, the four countries were Samistonia, <br />
Yadistan, Greybourg, and Hyrule.</td></tr>
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Each country will then receive randomly-assigned attributes. The first attribute will be geographic placement. Although the map is set, which landmass a particular group of leaders will reside on is not.<br />
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The second attribute will be population. The smallest country will have 20 million residents. The largest will have 800 million.<br />
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The third attribute will be GDP. GDP will range from $20 billion to $400 billion. We're using a common currency because OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS CRAZY ENOUGH!<br />
The governments will initially start out with a tax rate of 50% of overall GDP. So, effectively, countries will be able to spend $10 billion to $200 billion depending on their assigned GDP. Governments can change their tax rates, but such decisions will come with consequences (more on that later).<br />
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Finally, each country will receive randomly assigned resources. These resources are used during the course of the game and can be traded between countries.<br />
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The leaders will then work within their countries to come up with country names, national stories, and a unifying culture. They'll introduce their countries to the world. They'll have a chance to meet other leaders from other countries at a series of international meetings hosted by our international organizations.<br />
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Here's another wrinkle: The international organizations will be run by some of our high school students. More on that later too!<br />
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At the end of this period of harmony and collaboration, we will introduce the world to its first global challenge, and the leaders will have only 70 minutes to come up with a plan.<br />
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Tune in to Part III where we reveal the global challenges, domestic demands, and our daily schedule!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Elad Gross</i><br />
<i>President and CEO</i><br />
<i>Education Exchange Corps</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.edexco.org/">www.EdExCo.org</a></i><br />
<i><a href="mailto:Elad@EdExCo.org">Elad@EdExCo.org</a></i>Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7794003316569064811.post-50086058604912528712015-06-04T16:33:00.000-07:002015-06-04T16:33:02.829-07:00Summer Food Program Coming to Hyde ParkThe Education Exchange Corps will be partnering with the <a href="https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/human-services/" target="_blank">St. Louis City Department of Human Services</a> to provide free breakfasts and lunches to kids in Hyde Park.<br />
<br />
Each year, many kids depend on the City's Summer Food Program for a reliable meal. Unfortunately, many kids in the United States live under the burden of poverty. Just in the last couple of years, we have reached the point where <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/majority-of-us-public-school-students-are-in-poverty/2015/01/15/df7171d0-9ce9-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html" target="_blank">the majority of kids in public schools are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches</a>. <br /><br />This epidemic does not end when the school bell rings. And it doesn't take a break over summer vacation. Children still need food.<br />
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In the Hyde Park neighborhood, we worked with Clay Elementary of the St. Louis Public Schools for years. Now that Clay Elementary is closed during the summer months, Most Holy Trinity Catholic School and Academy graciously agreed to host our summer program.<br />
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In both schools, 100% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Every single child.<br />
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Kids shouldn't be denied an education. They shouldn't be allowed to languish over the summer months, left without access to some <a href="http://edexco.blogspot.com/2015/05/dear-st-louis-why-kids-need-us-and-how.html" target="_blank">stimulating activity that can prevent academic skill loss during their break</a>. And on top of everything else going on in their lives, they shouldn't have to go hungry too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIO2xR9EOQwuprM6xBc6x6CZtzCWQ4JuWyRB1MSAbaOWMFCfbvIBCQfpaLBqvpteA-3HzqbO6pDEJckRO8gTHIYlrHQqNMY8RiBcyZBHwddG6KGLI6MldIumdBzfvz11ZTFRZDvjQTO0/s1600/Summer+Food+Program.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIO2xR9EOQwuprM6xBc6x6CZtzCWQ4JuWyRB1MSAbaOWMFCfbvIBCQfpaLBqvpteA-3HzqbO6pDEJckRO8gTHIYlrHQqNMY8RiBcyZBHwddG6KGLI6MldIumdBzfvz11ZTFRZDvjQTO0/s400/Summer+Food+Program.jpg" width="400" /></a>I was happy to see so many folks packed into the Wohl Rec Center gym today to receive training on how to participate in the Summer Food Program. Their efforts will make sure that thousands of kids will have access to meals. We're excited to put up our yard sign in Hyde Park come July 6.<br />
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<br />
<i>Elad Gross</i><br />
<i>President and CEO</i><br />
<i>Education Exchange Corps</i><br />
<a href="http://www.edexco.org/"><i>www.EdExCo.org</i></a><br />
<a href="mailto:elad@edexco.org" target="_blank"><i>Elad@EdExCo.org </i></a><br />
<br />Education Exchange Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07778742308903915940noreply@blogger.com0