Story Archive

Lesson in the Real World

The Patriot Java Shop at Patapsco High School in Dundalk, Md., teaches cognitively disabled students job skills as baristas. It’s won a grant for innovation and been profiled by a local TV station. “Nothing we have ever done has given them so many gains,” said teacher Dana Evans. Students who had been isolated in a special-needs classroom got the chance to move through the halls and interact with schoolmates. But the Maryland State Department of Education isn’t impressed. “Health professionals do not believe that serving caffeine to high school students promotes their well-being,” it said, defending the application of its new policy banning selling coffee in high schools during the school day. Parents feared the program would have to close completely, but Steve’s Frozen Chillers, of Florida, donated a slushie machine, and now the school plans to transform Patriot Java into Patriot Chillers. (AC/WBAL Baltimore, Baltimore Sun) ...Classes at 7:45 a.m., and caffeine sales are banned. Sorry, did someone say someth’ ’bout well-being?
Original Publication Date: 12 October 2014
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 21.

Is There a Problem on This Page? Let Me Know using the Help button lower right, and thanks.

I believe humanity is held back by the lack of thinking. I provoke thought with examples of what happens when we don’t think, and when we do. This is True is my primary method: stories like this come out every week by email, and basic subscriptions are free. Click here for a subscribe form.

Previous: Smoke Screen

Search for:

Category: