Why are we surprised when young people rise up in response to direct assaults on their collective safety?
 
Why are we astonished when teens are able to pull off what adults have never been able to execute?
 
Why are we astounded that kids are motivated, talented, forthright, courageous, and empathetic?
 
Why are we ready to discount and ridicule all they have accomplished on the national stage in a few short days?
 
Why are they being punished?
 
Why are they being targeted with violence?
 
​Western culture has designed a coercive system that:

• homogenizes
• holds young people back from    pursuing individual interests and aspirations
• uses competition, reward, and punishment to achieve compliance
•  labels and classifies
• is inflexible and restrictive
•  is afraid of change
• infers that kids are - lazy, petty, spoiled, self-centered, apathetic, and rebellious 

​Therefore, we are completely dumbfounded, unsettled, angry, and distressed when young people prove that they are capable, intelligent, creative, compassionate, and mature human beings who are ready to take on those sacred structures of society that are blatantly harming our citizens while impeding constructive and positive change.
 
Newsflash (Surprise): Our kids are out to transform their world!  We had better lose our righteous disbelief, fear, and outrage, or, be prepared to be designated as hackneyed stiffs, while defending an outdated, dysfunctional, and, yes, corrupt establishment.   ​

… is the backbone that everything is built upon (and around) at Deep Root Center. After a few recent incidents, I was compelled to reflect on this primary principle within our philosophy.  I can still say, with confidence, that I believe that every young person (whether a DRC kid or not) is inherently driven to learn. We do not need to coerce, trick, induce, or propel any child to question, explore, and discover.  I also believe that when given the opportunity to make important decisions – they will make good choices. 
 
Within that, I fully recognize that mistakes are inevitable and that previous detrimental and traumatic experiences can lead to making bad choices, which have the potential to result in dangerous situations. However, I, after having my convictions put to the ultimate test, will always choose trust over suspicion, support over dominance, meaningful conversation over punishment, and loving, kindness over authoritarianism.
 
The above statement is the piece that confounds those who embrace coercive systems. They feel the need to stay fully alert and in control, because they have the underlying belief that kids (teens) have the capacity to - cheat, behave badly, hurt each other, and be lazy and unmotivated - if they are not pushed or induced to do the things we adults believe are best for them.  They are also wary of any young person who does not fit in, who chooses to embrace their individuality, and who, simply, looks different.

I do acknowledge that fear of the unknown is a powerful task master. Nevertheless, kids comprehend, on a fundamental level, whether they are trusted or not and will always react in accordance.   
 
DRC students know, without a doubt, that we have their back in any situation, no matter what.  They can come to Chris, Trish, or me with any idea, suggestion, or problem and know that we will listen and provide encouragement and support in any way they would like. They understand that we will not be monitoring their activity (checking up on them) constantly.  They recognize the value of honest communication and thoughtful discussion. They offer endless kindness and comfort to each other, when life gets rough.  Furthermore, at the end of each day, they are proud to be part of a respectful and dynamic community that cares for each other, where they are offered the opportunity to fully be themselves, without negative critique, and to follow their interests and aspirations to blaze their own trails. 
 
To be perfectly clear, DRC is not exempt or immune from frightening, upsetting, and traumatic experiences - “stuff” happens here too. It is how we respond that sets us apart and makes an enormous difference in our student’s lives.   
 ​
Thank you!
 
Thank you to everyone who participated in and contributed to the DRC Shiver Me Timbers Silent Auction.  We had a great time.  The proceeds went directly into our scholarship aid fund.  
 
We have placed some of the items that did not sell on the DRC Facebook page.  Take a peek and bid in the comments section. 
 

by Maria Corse
​​ 
The prevailing belief that kids are inherently lazy and won’t do what they need to do unless they are coerced is what drives our current educational model, and, if we are completely honest, modern parenting practices. This misconception completely ignores the fundamental biological fact that as perfectly unique human beings we are all innately designed to learn and grow - at variable rates. Children have all the spirit they need, built right in.  They, simply, do not need the external motivation society has designed for them - the stickers, ice-cream parties, and all of the other nonsensical means we use to entice them to – be the best, obey, conform, do as they are told, and acquire pre-ordained knowledge.  
 
Adults interpret, “This sucks” – “I hate this” – “No really, this is too hard” – “I can’t” –  all those expressions of frustration from kids who are fully engaged in something that pushes them a bit too far out of their comfort zone, as messages of resignation, and, jump in to help, when in most cases that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Frequently, when allowed to, those same vocal (and, yes, whiny) kids will persevere to push through the rough patches.  On an organic level, they understand that working through challenges initiates growth, understanding, and progress towards personal aspirations.  They, of course, are not always able to verbalize all of that, but you can often tell that they most definitely feel it – the smile, the posture, and that extra spark of pride in their eye.

It is our culture’s preoccupation with competition and “making sure” that drains, and I mean literally sucks, all of that natural determination right out of them.  ​

We, consequently, have kids who never had to do the hard stuff – because everything has been laid out and done for them.  Hence, they don’t know how to deal with challenges or adversity on their own and only do what is necessary to get by.
 
Those of us who spend our days mentoring kids in a Self–Directed learning environments witness first-hand the transformations that hard-work and struggle bring about. We have the astonishing privilege of standing back, with encouraging words, to allow our students to make important decisions, problem solve, and tenaciously persist through the grueling stuff (sometimes, after pitching a few fits or even re-imagining the original plan) to come out triumphantly with new found confidence and poise.  No, it doesn’t occur overnight and certainly not always at the pace that society expects – but it does happen. In the end, we have strong, resilient, smart, capable, empathetic, and dedicated adults who are able to state, “this is hard,” and then find the intrinsic motivation to progress onto the next challenge life throws at them. ​

by Maria Corse
 
Over time our culture has developed an overwhelmingly insane assumption that adding pressure to any situation automatically makes people more productive, creative, and, yes, even smarter.  What we fail to recognize is that the adrenaline released during those times of intense stress, is evolutionarily designed to present the illusion of bigger - better - faster – in bursts - for an incredibly short period of time.  There is a reason it is called the fight or flight response.  When humans are placed in situations where the only means of motivation are threats and pressure – for prolonged stretches of time – burnout is inevitable.
 
Let’s be honest, we all have enough natural stress in our lives – we certainly don’t need anyone to manufacture it for us with the false impression that it is beneficial for our future.  Yet, that is exactly what we do to millions of students every day (not to mention the adults who work at jobs they hate, merely, to survive).