CSUSM Hosts Free Screening of Race to Nowhere

What: Screening of Race to Nowhere and panel discussion When: Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.Where: ARTS Building, Room 240 at California State University San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San MarcosWhy: This event will provide the community an opportunity to view the provocative documentary, Race to Nowhere, which discusses the realities of today’s educational system and the race for high test scores. An expert panel of CSUSM faculty and local educators will discuss the film and engage audience in dialogue, immediately following the viewing.Admission: Tickets are free to the public; however, seating is limited. Tickets must be reserved online at http://www.csusm.edu/el/teachereducation/racetonowhere.html. Parking for the event is not included and must be purchased when you arrive on campus. Rates range from $3-$9 depending on length of stay.Note: PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – Press interested in attending the screening, please contact Sarah Villarreal at (760) 750-8714 to arrange for free entrance and free parking.California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) Extended Learning, in partnership with the College of Education, is hosting a free screening of the documentary film Race to Nowhere on Thursday, December 9.Immediately following the film, Patricia Prado-Olmos, Dean of the CSUSM College of Education, will lead a panel of distinguished faculty and local educators in an open discussion of how the themes of the film impact our educational community. Panel members include Jannis Brandenburg, CSUSM Distinguished Teacher in Residence, Teacher, Valley High School, Escondido Union High School District; Mae Chaplin, CSUSM Distinguished Teacher in Residence, Teacher, San Dieguito High School Academy, San Dieguito Union High School District; Kevin D. Holt, Ed.D., Superintendent, San Marcos Unified School District; Lorri Santamaria, Ph.D., Associate Professor, CSUSM College of Education; and, Jose Manuel Villarreal, Ed.D., Principal, Vista Magnet Middle School.“Closing the achievement gap is one of the most important goals we have in education,” said Patricia Stall, Associate Dean of the College of Education. “It is a moral imperative that we support all children to become educated and active participants in a democratic society. Race to Nowhere provides us with a valuable opportunity by which to engage in the important conversations and actions surrounding the complex issues of social justice and equity, which are imbedded in access to high quality learning for all children. We are excited to be working with Extended Learning to host the screening of this landmark film and facilitate subsequent discussions at this crucial juncture in 21st century education policy.”Tickets are free to the public and seating is limited. For more information on the CSUSM Extended Learning event, or to reserve your ticket, please visit us online at www.csusm.edu/el/RacetoNowhere or call (760) 750-4020.About Race to NowhereIn the film Race to Nowhere, a concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children’s lives, creating unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared and stressed-out youth. Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace; students are disengaged; stress-related illness and depression are rampant; and many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people in all types of communities who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids, Race to Nowhere is a call to action to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. Learn more at www.racetonowhere.com.About Extended Learning at California State University San MarcosAs the academic outreach arm of Cal State San Marcos, Extended Learning is a leading provider of professional and continuing education in San Diego North and Southwest Riverside Counties. Offering degree programs and both academic credit and noncredit professional enrichment courses and career-based certificate programs, we help individuals and organizations achieve their educational and training goals.About California State University San MarcosCalifornia State University San Marcos combines the ambiance of a mid-sized, personal, modern campus with the unequaled value of the California State University. Since its founding in 1989, the campus has distinguished itself. Students benefit from the latest facilities and equipment, a superb faculty that enjoys teaching, and a rigorous academic program that prepares students for a successful life in and out of the workplace. A recent survey reported that the University’s annual spending in the region was $161 million, generating a total impact of $307 million on the regional economy. 85 percent of CSUSM’s alumni stay in the region. CSU San Marcos is located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the city of San Marcos. It is 15 miles east of the ocean; just 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.