-JUNE 18-
The next two weeks mark the end of our social action class, but of course– OF COURSE!– not the end of your social activism. I hope that this summer your eyes are wide open to what needs to get better in our world AND that you do something, little or big, about it.
This year, we talked about a million issues including: Trump’s evil battle against immigrants; embracing LGBTQ+ people and the discrimination they are up against; too many guns and the wicked NRA. We saw how plastic is killing our sea life; dove into depression and what you can do to battle against it; got Sex Ed; viewed how advertisers trick you (especially with Photoshop) and how loving yourself and media literacy are the best defense. We opened our hearts to animal cruelty and the homeless; learned about the villainous Big Tobacco; found out where our clothes came from; and learned about being a good digital citizen and the dangers of our obsession with technology. We also spoke about bullying and defending against it personally and in your school. Lastly, we turned our attention to the power of spoken word poetry and how it can be used to speak about social issues.
And we did something about it! Here’s a quick highlight reel of some of our social action work:
If you haven’t created a social action project, make some something today that says how you feel about one of the issues we talked about this year.
But don’t stop here in this class! Make it your passion to create a better world! Here’s Prince Ea letting you know through spoken word poetry:
-June 4-
Last week, In the Tech Café, I watched students faces as they took it in Sanaa’s spoken word poem about bullying. Kids’ eyes opened wide at some lines, while others nodded their heads with the words. Afterward, kids were like “damn, that was good, I cannot lie, that was GOOD.”
There’ definitely something powerful about good poetry–especially when it’s said aloud. The best poetry is UNAFRAID. As the writer, it goes down to deep places inside you. Beautiful places. Ugly places. Places you haven’t visited in a while.
Once down there, you say what you see-like it’s a movie: the evil characters and the heroes, the sweet and the nasty smells, moldy memories you wish would go away, and bakery-fresh memories you wish you could hold on to forever. Here’s a guide:
Slam poetry doesn’t have to be about your memories. It can also be social action. It can tell someone else’s story or your heartfelt opinion on an issue, like this:
Like Team Chicago, you can do your poetry with partners, you can sing parts, and you can choreograph body movements. Your spoken word poetry can be accompanied by images as well to take your listener on a different kind of journey:
One of the most important parts about doing spoken word (AKA “Slam”) poetry is having a safe space. Poets are digging DEEP to uncover powerful truths about who they are and how they see the world. Make sure that if you are a listener to support the poet, They are summoning real bravery to face your judging eyes. They are digging deep, so reward them with snaps and nodding heads.
What will you write your spoken word poem about? Click HERE for some ideas.
-MAY 25-
We’ve been talking about bullying this month and what we can do here at The Island School to change the culture so that it becomes less acceptable. In fact, two students are working on a podcast where they confront a friend who was being a bully. They have him explain his actions and speak face-to-face with the person he bullied. I’m crossing my fingers that it creates a positive change.
It’s so important that we create a school that celebrates differences and gets people to love themselves. Right? Why spend the short time we have on earth feeling bad about yourself? How about making a song, comic, story, or video like this for young girls or boys who might feel like they don’t fit in?
One big way people get bullied (and bully themselves!) is weight. If you watched the video about the bully apologizing after 15 years, you’ll remember that she didn’t leave her house because neighborhood kids made fun of her weight. Ridiculous.
Seeing skinny girls and muscelly boys in advertisements, video games, and music videos doesn’t help. It makes anyone who’s different feel like they’re not good enough. We don’t have to be tricked by them into not feeling good enough, right? Let’s be proud of our faces and bodies, and let everyone know it!
What can you make to help people accept themselves and help us create schools that celebrate differences? What about making a spoken word poem like Sanaa’s that lets others know they’re not alone in feeling bullied?
How about jewelry with positive messages to keep people’s spirits up? How about a Scratch Game about a compliment shooter that saves the depressed? How about using a graphic design program like Canva to create posters for the school?
-May 18-
For as long as I remember, when Ruby would go over to her cousin’s house they would run around like laughing maniacs–kicking soccer balls in the hallway, hiding-and-seeking, wrestling with each other on the couch. But a few weeks ago, we came over and things were different. Instead of the boys running to play with Ruby, they stayed in their rooms, glued to the computer, playing Fortnite.
The same kind of thing happens at The Island School. Each week, instead of doing their social action work in The Tech Café, I catch a bunch of students on Roblox and Slither.io. These same kids, pound on my door at lunch, just to get in so they can get back to their games. It’s almost like they’re addicted. Are they?
Take a look at the Infographic below. How many of these signs of gaming addiction do you see in yourself or someone you know?
Watch THIS video to learn more.
But, it’s not all bad. Some people argue that gaming actually improves your brain. Watch this video and put your brain to the test:
So, if you believe that Gaming Addiction is real, what can you do about it? How about making a movie where the character’s life is ruined by their gaming addiction, like THIS. How about making a podcast where you ask gamer’s their opinion about addiction? How about an art piece with clay like Jackie’s and Ruschell+Diana’s, that exposes the addiction.
-May 14-
For the past two weeks, we’ve been talking about bullying and being a smart digital citizen. One important way the two ideas come together is the idea of sexting. Sexting is when you send sexual messages, images, and videos of yourself. Check out these That’sNotCool Videos:
There are a few problems with doing Sexting:
- First, off it’s actually illegal. When you get someone under 17 to send nude pictures and videos and/or send friends those pics, it’s considered the possession and distribution of child pornography. Teens have gone to jail for this!
- Naked pics and videos rarely stay on the person’s phone you send it to. They get passed around. This can be deeply embarrassing and also lead to bullying and even suicide.
Can you think of other reasons not to do it?
To learn more, take this quiz (which also talks about Over Texting):
So what can we do about it here at The Island School? How about making an Anti-Sexting movie like THIS that has over two million views:
What about making a song? How about making bracelets for everyone who takes the ANTI-SEXT pledge? Help me brainstorm more ideas to include here.
-May 2-
Man, I had a terribly upsetting conversation with a student yesterday. The student, let’s call them Ray, was being bullied non-stop in class. Ray felt like their life was dark and no light was in the future. They even thought about ending things. It reminded me of a video an Island Schooler made a few years back:
Please don’t ask who Ray is. Instead, let’s try to think about what makes people bully one another? Why can’t we just be comfortable in our own skin and not feel the need to take others down?
Those who witness bullying can play different roles. There are the kids who assist, those who cheer and laugh, and those who quietly watch. But there are also a special bunch of kids who actually stand up for the person getting bullied– the UPSTANDERS!
So how can we help solve this problem? Some believe that the best way to stop a bully is to not fight back and instead send back humor and positivity. Some believe technology can provide solutions like THIS app that helps students find someone to sit with at lunch. Others choose to create school-wide movements. Try this out by playing Activate:
In the cafe, we can make products like upstander jewelry, podcasts, videos, and songs like this:
What will you make to celebrate upstanders? How will you tell the story of those who have been bullied? What will you make to teach the bullies another way? How will you create real change inside and outside of school?
-APRIL 30-
Last week, an 8th grader (let’s call her “Candy”) came to me with a BIG problem. Her Facebook and Snapchat accounts had been hacked. All the passwords had been changed. The hacker texted Candy saying that the only way they’d give her the new password is if she revealed her Snapchat’s “My Eyes Only” passcode. To make matter’s worse, using Facebook Chat, the hacker texted Candy’s friends. Pretending to be Candy, the hacker said, “I’m locked out of my Snap account, can you give me your password so I can text my boyfriend?” In other words, the hacker was phishing for Candy’s friends’ personal information as well. This type of attack is called “social engineering”.
To battle against these hackers, we need to boost our cybersecurity skills.
Click HERE to play a fantastic game that lets you be the CEO of a new technology company defending against hackers:
To learn more, visit Brainpop and ask me for the username/password:
-April 23-
Jibeh Shows Off Her “Nike” Shirt That Shows the Dark Side Behind Our Clothes
There’s A LOT more to be said about sweatshops and I hope that you continue to research this issue and make more games, comics, crafts, and art that lets people know where their clothes come from. In May, we will return back to discovering the dark story behind how our stuff is made– but this time, we will focus on where our electronics come from and who digs the minerals that make them work.
This week we’ll be talking about digital citizenship: how to use technology in a smart, kind, and responsible way. I got the idea of this topic after 7th-grader Jared shared THIS intense video about our obsession with our phones. It focuses on how we ignore the “real world” around us and instead stare at our screens–taking pictures of ourselves, our friends, and our food instead of simply enjoying what’s in front of us.
I played the video to the 8th grade and Mayia and Alia disagreed that we share too much. They argued that taking photos and videos of our lives brings us closer and lets friends experience moments that they might have missed out on. What do you think? Are we too focused on our technology and ignoring the “real world”? What do you share with others Online? Let’s watch the movie below to help us think deeply about the issue:
If you believe we are too distracted by our technology, what can we do about it? One idea is to agree with your friends and family to ban devices during special times like dinner. #DeviceFreeDinner
-April 9-
Last session we discovered the dirty secret about where our clothes come from. Oh, and it’s not just clothes, it’s sneakers too:
So what can we do to combat these Sweatshops? Here are a couple of ideas:
- Protest! HERE is a list of some companies that still use Sweatshops to make their clothes. Organize with your friends to march in front of their stores!
- Sign a petition or send an email to companies that use sweatshops. For example, click HERE to send one to Abercrombie and Fitch. Tell them you won’t buy their gear if they don’t pay their workers fairly.
- Create signs, leather, and jewelry that expose these companies. Sell your crafts and use the money to benefit organizations fighting against sweatshops like THIS.
- How about making an Anti-Sweatshop shirt with a picture of a laborer and the message: Victoria’s Real Secret or Forever 21 Hours of work.
- Maybe create/sew clothing labels that expose the issue like the ones below:
-April 2-
For many of us (including you!) who do Social Action, our eyes open up to see the world in a different way. We no longer walk by the homeless and ignore them; we do not eat meat without thinking about how these animals were treated before they arrived at our plate; we shake our heads at the cigarette advertisements that surround us along with the butts on the sidewalk….
I’d like to add something to your list of eye-opening issues. The average American spends $1600 on clothing and shoes each year. Do you ever walk into an Old Navy or Abercrombie and wonder where these thousands and thousands of shirts come from? The answer is almost never The United States. Why? Because American workers would never stand for the way that workers in places like China, Indonesia, and Bangladesh are treated. In these SWEATSHOPS, workers are often paid 1 cent an hour, and many are children. They are forced to work 14-17 hours per day, sometimes finishing at 3:30 AM and starting again at 7:30 AM. The working conditions are hazardous and there have been many fires and building collapses that have killed thousands.
Click HERE to explore how T-Shirts are made from start to finish.
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For a deeper exploration into the lives of Sweatshop workers click below **Warning: Graphic Content
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You can also get a small sense of how it feels to work in a Sweatshop by clicking on the game below:
-march 25-
This Saturday, Ruby, my wife Amy, and I went to the March for Our Lives near Central Park. It was a sea of people–so many!– all marching and chanting for a common cause. My favorite chant was: “Tell me what democracy looks like?” and people responded, “THIS is what democracy looks like!” Because remember, the people who make laws work for us, not businesses like the NRA, Big Tobacco, and The Meat and Dairy Industry.
And most of you now know about the energy of marching for your beliefs. Here you are last month:
This week, we’re not going to be talking about an issue. Instead, I’m going to help you to complete your first REQUIRED assignment of the year. You can find the assignment HERE, and it’s due Monday, April 9th.
-MARch 19-
Man, oh man, I am so proud of Island Schoolers. You marched, you chanted, you spoke, and you sang for gun control. The villain is quite clear: The NRA. As we’ve learned, they block any laws to make guns harder to get.
Similarly, Big Tobacco blocks any laws to make cigarettes harder to get– especially for kids. Their goal is to get new customers as young as possible to smoke (their old customers are dying from smoking-related diseases like cancer that they caused).
This week we will be talking about The Meat and Dairy Industry. Just like the NRA and Big Tobacco, they care about only one thing: MONEY. They destroy the environment, treat animals like objects, abuse their workers, and put us, the eaters, in danger.
To get a better understanding of how the industry works, play the game McVideoGame. While you play, think about the following questions:
- How does farming cows hurt the environment?
- How can beef make us sick?
- How are workers treated in fast food chains?
- How does the fast food business get people to buy their food?
-MARCH 12-
Last week we spoke about how Big Tobacco buys politicians so that they don’t make rules against cigarettes. This allows them to do evil deeds like placing BIG cigarette advertisements near schools, Meanwhile, smoking cigarettes not only harms your body and those around you, but harms mother earth as well. Smokers think that cigarette butts are made of natural materials that melt away (biodegrade). They’re wrong. Cigarette butts are made of plastic and they stay for generations. Plus, after butts filter smoke, they’re filled with chemicals that poison the ground and water. Learn more below:
What can we do to raise awareness of this issue? A couple of years ago, an Island School student created a video documenting the number of cigarette butts she found on the street. Maybe you can interview someone you know who smokes and ask them what they think happens to butts when they flick them away? One organization is even collecting cigarette butts and making them into park benches (see below). Maybe we should build our own Butt Collectors for the Lower East Side?
The good news is that smoking rates have gone down. The bad news, is that e-cigarette smoking (AKA Vaping) is way up. With those yummy flavors and cool designs, it’s getting kids hooked on nicotine (the addictive drug in cigarettes). In fact, kids who smoke e-cigarettes are 4X more likely to begin smoking regular cigarettes. Also, those e-cigarettes are not as harmless as people think:
So what will you create to get those butts off the street and keep kids away from e-cigarettes?
-March 5-
Last week, I went into Wallgreens for some Tylenol. Inside, the aisles were filled with products to help you improve your health: anti-bacterial soaps, rows of vitamins for stronger bones, band-aids, cherry red liquids to relieve colds, and purple pills to help your heartburn. At check out though, there stood a wall of something that does nothing but ruins your body: cigarettes. Why is that? Why do companies like Walgreens (but not CVS!) choose to sell these cancer sticks? I’m not the only one who’s thought about this:
Cigarette companies (AKA Big Tobacco) don’t just leave their cigarettes hanging around in shops hoping for someone to buy them– nope, they advertise them. And guess who they advertise most to? The answer: people of color and low-income areas.
It’s time to fight back. My favorite organization fighting back is Truth. Check out some of their videos by clicking HERE. I love them because they’re funny and shocking. Like this one:
As you look through these videos, think about the protests we can do, the shirts and jewelry we can make, the videos, and the games we can create, to finally end smoking.
Here are a couple of projects that Island School students have done in the past:
-FEBRUARY 24-
On February 14, a former student walked into a high school in Parkland Florida and shot and killed 14 students and teachers. This is the 8th school shooting this year and politicians have done zero to make it better. In fact, they made it worse by getting rid of rules that prevented mentally ill people from getting firearms. The biggest reason for this: The NRA (The National Rifle Association). They are the ones that shower money on lawmakers to make sure that no laws are made to restrict guns.
Maybe you believe in hunting (even though we can now get food from a place called a “supermarket”). Maybe you believe that collecting old-timey guns is a worthwhile hobby. Or maybe you believe shooting a target is fun (try paintball or pellets!), But, can’t we all agree to ban assault rifles? These weapons of war should be strictly for soldiers and police officers. They should not be easily obtained by any random 18-year-old who may or may not be mentally ill and who has more than likely been bullied at school. This week, our president says the best solution is to give guns to our teachers. What do you think? Does it make more sense to ban assault rifles or to have your ELA, math, and gym teachers packing heat?
The good news is that teens like you are not taking it anymore. A movement started by the victims of the Parkland Shooting has taken off. It goes by the hashtag #NeverAgain and #StudentsStandUp.
One of the founder’s of the movement is Parkland student Emma Gonzales. Watch her Inspirational Speech by clicking HERE:
Follow these hashtags on Twitter and post your own ideas and projects that you make here in the Café. In addition, they are planning a huge protest on all across the country called MARCH FOR OUR LIVES. Have you ever marched in a protest? This is a great time to start. After all, you are (or almost are) a teen and you go to school. Do you want to live in fear that something like this could happen to you? Do you think other teens should be able to own assault weapons? Do you want greedy politicians choosing money from the NRA over your life? NO?
Do something about it.
Speaking of which, check out Kayleen’s song about the Florida Shooting:
-JANUARY 25-
Well hello! In case you didn’t notice, I was absent last week. I’ve had back problems and now it’s finally time to take care of it. I had one surgery and will have one more next week. If you want to check in on me you can write lahana@island188.org. No pressure 😉
Last time we were together we spoke about the HUGE problem of homelessness. Some students felt like the problem was just too big to deal with. Other students argued that just because we can’t solve the entire homeless problem, it doesn’t mean we can’t make life better for a small group of homeless men and women. Let’s keep doing good deeds for those on the streets. It feels good and it does good.
Ok, this week we’re returning back to our plastic problem. Rather than simply talk about how sad it is that we throw out 88,000 tons of plastic each day, let’s work on changing our own habits. Let’s figure out fun and fashionable ways to reuse plastic and other materials rather than trashing them. It’s called UPCYCLING. Here are some examples that you can feel free to do:
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-january 22, 2018-
Wow, it’s cold out there. As Ruby and I walk down the street, we see homeless men and women huddled up under cardboard boxes, inside subway stations begging for change, and laying against vents that are pushing warm air out of buildings. I think to myself how did they get there? If their childhood self could get a glimpse of this future, what would they think and what would they change? Why don’t they go to shelters? How can I really help?
It’s so easy to turn off to the problem because it’s so big. But there are so many amazing solutions out there. People crocheting sleeping mats out of plastic bags, people providing haircuts, showers, and shoes.
You may say to yourself, that’s good and all, but there’s nothing I can do as a young teen here on the Lower East Side. Wanna bet?
-JANUARY 8, 2018-
Last week I got caught being a hypocrite (someone who says something but does something different). My offense? Drinking bottled water. Over the years we’ve done a lot of work on this issue. From testing tap vs. bottled water to filming a “Bottle Cops” video where bottled water drinkers get arrested. What’s been clear from the get-go, is that bottled water stinks: it’s bad for your health and horrible for the environment:
To raise awareness of this issue, I and my 8-year-old Ruby, created this Lego movie. Here’s the script. Why not make your own about this issue or another one?
Click HERE to learn more about the Bottled Water Issue.
-january 2, 2018!-
Happy new year everyone!
OK, back to business. Over the years, Island Schoolers have made some incredible hip-hop tracks. Y’all are talented, but we need more artists to bless our Soundcloud page. YouTube is filled with tutorials on how to make songs and cool ways to create beats. But none of them talk about how to create Social Action Rap. Therefore, I decided to create The Techbrarian’s Social Action Rap Guide.
In the guide, we talk about what to write about, how to rhyme, and the parts of a song. For example, a bar is a small section of music. Imagine a counter going 1-2-3-4. The words you fit in during that count are a single bar. Here’s a quiz: how many bars does Ezionn’s verse have before the “I’m running off of the stage” chorus comes in (ignore the intro)?
Go to the very bottom of my Journal to find the answer. The guide also gives a strategy for creating rhymes.
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1) Write a meaningful line like:
Standing with animals, so I take a Meatless Monday
2) Next, create a rhyme for “Monday” and place it at the end of the next line:
Standing with animals, so I take a Meatless Monday
____________________________________One Day
____________________________________Money
3) Finally, fill in the rest of the second line with something that makes sense like:
Standing with animals, so I take a Meatless Monday
I pray they’ll let the cows graze outside One Day
But all the meat industry cares about is that Money
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Anyhow, check out the guide for more ideas. Can’t wait to see the raps you create!
-DECEMBER 15-
For the last two weeks, we have been talking about Media Literacy and how to shatter stereotypes. You created fantastic Anti-Stereotypes and grew skilled at calling out advertisers’ tricks. There is a TON more to talk about on this subject, but you’ll have to do independent research on Techbrarian.com, because it’s time to move on to our next issue.
For our final issue of the year, we’re going to be talking about animal cruelty. This issue is wide-ranging, from how we treat animals in circuses and labs to how we use them for food and clothing. The links below are often GRAPHIC, so do not click on them if you are sensitive to serious violence.
Scientists know that animals dream and feel pain, yet that doesn’t stop us from treating them like objects and imprisoning them. Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), are constantly exposing the companies that clothe and feed us with their muscles, fat, and skin. Don’t forget, we are animals too! What gives us the right to do this?
Depressing, right? But there’s so much we can do! An easy way to start is to take a day off each week from eating meat. There are a zillion delicious vegetarian recipes. You can also consider buying less leather and only buying cruelty-free make-up. This journal entry was jam packed with links and there are more on Techbrarian.com. If these touched your heart, consider getting the word out by making a powerful Social Action product like a song, game, shirt, or jewelry.
-DECEMBER 7-
Last week, we watched a bunch of media that spewed garbage stereotypes. To identify them, we used Techbrarian’s Media Literacy Guide.
It was pretty sad to see the way media portrayed us and those we care about. Yep, the week was filled with shouts, tears, and lots of WTF’s. But now comes the important part: DOING BATTLE.
While there are a million ways to wake people up to damaging stereotypes, one idea stood out this week: Making an Anti-Stereotype game. Although you can’t actually play the game , click on the image below to read about Bias Breaker:
Now, using the Anti-Stereotype page in Techbrarian’s Media Literacy guide, create a game where you shoot down stereotypes and create Anti-Stereotypes in their place. Use the Scratch Tutorial below for hints on the code. Click for Part 2 HERE, Part 3 HERE, and Part 4 HERE.
–DECEMBER 4–
Last week we spoke about the pressure that boys face to wear tough-guy masks. We also pointed out the “beauty-over-brains” message that girls are taught and that boys come to believe.
The messages start young. Play this mash-up game to see how different boy and girl toy advertisements are:
Now it’s time to dive further. This week, we’re 
going to watch some more videos and look at some print ads to identify more tricks and even more stereotypes. Click HERE to download Techbrarian’s Media Literacy Guide.
Now, for those interested in filmmaking, check out this video on how to use iMovie to make a Tricks & Stereotypes movie.
-NOVEMBER 26–
How often do you look in the mirror and wish you could change something? Did you always feel that way?
Boys, how often do you feel like you need to be tough, even if it’s not the real you? Girls, how often do you feel pressure to be pretty (or sexy)?
The thing is, there are so many ways to be a boy, including being a poet, a nurse, and a good listener. But the media would have you believe the only way to be a boy is to be tough and treat women like objects to be played with.
Likewise, there are also a million ways to be a girl: an engineer, a congresswoman, and a wrestler. But the media has you believing your job is to look good for men and shop until you drop.
Of course, there are many role models that help us to break these stereotypes, but we need more! We need you to help other kids to see through the garbage they are feeding us. What will you create to fight the media’s power? One way is to start with kids– Why not make a book? Click below to hack a Barbie book to break stereotypes:
-NOVEMBER 17, 2017-
Have you ever wondered why you fiend for the latest sneakers? Afterall, those $185 LeBron 15’s only cost $16 to make. Why is it that all those American Eagle models have six packs, zero body fat, and no pimples? And how come those hamburgers on McDonald’s commercials look flawlessly bright, round, and steamy?
The answer is advertising. Understanding advertising is called Media Literacy. Let’s take a look at some commercials below. As you watch them, use THIS sheet to figure out the strategy they use to trick you into buying it.
Can you think of any ways to get kids your age to see through all the tricks that advertisers use? How about a commercial where you stop mid-way through and call out the trick being used? Another idea is to encourage people to stop shopping so much. Check out the site BuyNothingDay for more on this.
-NOVEMBER 13, 2017-
Penis. Vagina. Anus. Sex. These are some of the most exPLOSive words you can use in the human language. Why is that? Why is talking about these body parts and this natural act so scary, embarrassing, and inappropriate?
Welp, in my opinion, it is important to talk about them. In fact, according to the NYC Department of Education, it is a requirement to teach sexual education (SexEd) in middle school! Here are a few reasons why:
- Talking about how your body develops when you reach puberty helps pre-teens and teens feel more comfortable with the changes they are going through.
- EVERYONE has questions surrounding sex. What is a wet dream? Can girls get pregnant when they are on their period? How old do I have to be to buy condoms? Is my penis a normal size? What’s the difference between HIV and AIDS?
- If we don’t talk about how to have safe sex, people are more likely to get pregnant and/or catch a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Would you rather be a little embarrassed talking about this stuff or be pregnant or get an STD? Hmm?
There are a bunch of resources on Techbrarian.com, but my absolute favorite is 100 Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents (ask me for the password).
As you learn more about SexEd, some of you may decide that this is an issue you care about. In past years, my students have created videos, songs, and a blog to help other kids feel more comfortable with their bodies and their relationships. What will you make?
-NOVEMBER 5, 2017-
This week, I thought we’d delve into the issue of mental health– specifically, Depression, Feeling sad or depressed is natural and happens to everyone. Depression, on the other hand, is more serious and long-term. People can develop depression for unknown reasons or because of life events like bullying, divorce, or the death of a loved one. LGBTQ individuals are three times more likely to suffer from mental illnesses like depression.
Like physical health issues, mental health issues are real (not imagined). Like physical health issues, people with mental issues usually need professionals to help.
As a friend of someone who is depressed, it’s hard to know how to help. Part of it is understanding what they’re going through. Another part is figuring out what they need from you while they’re going through it– it might not be the same as what you think they need.
How do we talk about this problem and work toward solutions Island Schoolers? Speaking with a trained professional and taking medicine are essential when things get serious. However, there are strategies you can do to help yourself and others stay positive. In fact, when my daughter was a 1 year old, she helped me make a video to provide such strategies. Here’s an example of a T-Shirt someone made. Also, those who have dealt with depression can speak out about it creatively to free themselves from the shame and help others feel less alone. Finally, HERE’s a game you can play to learn more about how it feels to go through depression.
-october 30, 2017-
Yesterday I read a mind-boggling article in the New York Times about how plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda. People are literally getting imprisoned for using them. That may be a little extreme, but plastic is a huge problem– it’s filling our oceans, killing sea animals, and it’s bad for our health. California banned single-use plastic bags. Unfortunately, New York’s Governor killed a bill that wouldn’t ban plastic bags, but just place a 5 cent tax on them!
There are some clever solutions out there like edible packaging, but let’s think up some of our own in order to reduce our use of plastic. Here are a few ideas:
- make your own toothpaste to avoid buying plastic tubes. We can store them in Mason Jars.
- Make your own shopping bags from old t-shirts to use instead of plastic bags
- Make a documentary or song about how much plastic is used on the Lower East Side
What are some of your ideas?
-october 22, 2017-
We’ve made some really cool products this week! Follow our Twitter page to catch all of our newest creations.
The whole suicide+guns issue really touched some students. They spoke of how tough it is to be a teenager: so much judging, so much fighting, so much dissing, so much drama– it can be a lot handle—too much for some. But like Logic said, there’s always help if you need it at 1-800-273-8255. Remember: it really does get better…barely anybody in high school, college or your workplace has the time or patience for the immature elementary and middle school name calling, fighting, and head games.
That’s not to say life is drama-less. One big drama happening revolves around the national anthem. Last year, NFL player Colin Kaepernick decided to sit out during the song to protest police brutality. This, in turn, started a whole movement of players from all sports taking a knee during the anthem. Donald Trump and many other Americans believe that that not standing for the national anthem is disrespecting our country. Others believe that police brutality against people of color needs more attention and this is a powerful (and very American!) way to do it. What do you believe?
-october 8, 2017-
It’s been a week since the Las Vegas mass Shooting where 59 people were murdered and hundreds were injured. Just like the talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, I can’t stop thinking about it. The second amendment of our constitution allows citizens to have guns, but it’s safe to say our forefathers did not mean AK-47’s designed for warfare. According to Vox, Americans own nearly half of the privately held firearms in the world. EveryTown reports that 93 people are killed by guns in the U.S. each day– of those, with more than half being suicides. Sorry to throw so many numbers at you, I just can’t understand why we make it so easy for Americans to get guns. 
We are not passing laws to make this problem get better. Instead, our lawmakers are getting paid by The National Rifle Association (NRA) to keep guns in the hands of anyone who wants them– including those who are mentally ill and those who are not allowed on airplanes for fear they are terrorists. In most states, guns can easily be bought by private sellers online or at gun shows.
How are we going to solve this Island Schoolers? I think it starts by getting people to see the problem. Make a gun control song or podcast that goes viral! Make & sell shirts with anti-gun logos! Make & sell a graphic novel! Fundraise for a gun control organization! Invent something to prevent gun deaths!
-october 1, 2017-
Wow, the Puerto Rico situation is out-of-control. Trump says the U.S. is doing a fantastic job helping out, everyone actually living in PR says differently. One huge issue is access to clean water– as in they don’t have it and are flooded by water that’s getting dirtier by the day. This week we will be having a bake sale to benefit Puerto Rico. Stay tuned and save your pennies.
Speaking of dirty water, Ruby did some research on the issue and helped me create a podcast using Sountrap.com. You can too! CLICK HERE for a script that you can use to make your own. Click FILE–>MAKE A COPY to make changes.
Podcasts are an awesome way to learn about the world, by the way. Check out this one for kids and this one for teens.
-September 26, 2017-
I’m feeling really jazzed about how students have reacted to the videos we watched on gender, transgender rights, and intersex. Students asked super challenging questions about what it means to be a boy and a girl or to have a combination of parts (intersex). In the end, we divided gender into: (1) how you dress and act . (2) what body parts you are born with and (3) how you feel on the inside.
We also began brainstorming a few product ideas. My two favorites are:(1) Creating a stop motion animation of a waffle who knows that it’s a pancake deep in it’s heart and (2) Doing a rap battle between someone pro-LGBTQ rights and someone anti-LGBTQ rights.
Speaking of rapping, did you know that I was in a hip-hop group in college 20 years ago, Click HERE to listen to some songs. Tell me which song you like (everyone need compliments!) and why to win a prize!
-September 25, 2017-
The good news: Ruby got a hold of a couple of the cutest caterpillars you’ve ever seen upstate. Bad news: she got a hold of some poison ivy too. So so itchy 😦
In our final week of discussing LGBTQ issues, I located some interesting videos including: What is Gender? Intersex Athletes, a Transgender Bathroom Story and Children on How Gender Affects their Lives, For me (and maybe not for you and that’s OK), each one speaks about the need for us to accept people the way they see themselves–and not how we think they should be.
Oh, and our social issue Kahoots! are going well. Here are a couple of my favorites so far:
-September 19, 2017-
This week has started out with super interesting discussions about LGBTQ rights after watching In a Heartbeat. While we watched the movie, the reactions ranged from negative ew!, f@gg#ts, and yuck, to curious: is this saying it’s ok to be gay? and positive: aww he broke his heart!.
Afterward, some people argued that God put us here to be straight and to be the gender we were born with; changing either goes against his wishes. Others said you should be able to love who you want to and it’s no one else’s business. Many of us had a problem with one student’s statement: I don’t mind gay people, I just don’t want them around me. We felt that it was homophobic: if you don’t want someone around you, then you DO mind them. So, for those students who are pro-LGBTQ rights, what kinds of projects can we create to get the word out?
-September 17, 2017-
Yuck. The end of this week was pretty stressful. Techbrarian.com went down and spending time using it for research is pretty much the whole point of the first couple weeks of class. But I re-created the site somewhere else and it’s now DrLahana.com–hope you’re feeling the new design.
In other news, Mr. Morley (our dean) showed me this video called “In a Heartbeat”:
Along with this video, there are ones that show the reaction of kids and the elderly. I find it heartwarming to see both groups embrace the idea of two boys having feelings for each other.
What do you think of the animation? What are your thoughts on whether it’s OK to be gay (lesbian, bisexual, transgender)? Should you be able to love who you want or is it against nature and/or God? Are you secretly homophobic (“Yo, no homo, but…”) or are you a LGBTQ supporter deep in your heart?
-September 10, 2017-
Hurricane Irma is entering Florida–I can only imagine the fear and destruction about to unfold. I still think about what life was like when we in NYC had to deal with Sandy…and these latest hurricanes seem 10 times worse. You should check out the “Extreme Weather” section and the “Climate Change” section on Techbrarian to learn more about hurricanes. Unfortunately, I think they will become even more common in our lives 😦
-September 8, 2017-
Today was swell. Students were so into the Kahoot! quiz about The Tech Café and we started making our own about social issues. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to do this:
In other news, I’m about to start coaching Ruby’s soccer team this Saturday. This reminds me of when I played sports as a kid. Click HERE to see what I looked like when I was her age. Be one of the first 5 students to tell me what team I was on and you’ll win a prize.
-September 7, 2017-
So today was the first day of school– I did the Kahoot! quiz and it went really well–maybe too well–students were screaming their heads off when they got the right answer and screaming their heads off even more when they got it wrong. Kind of hard to bring things back to normal in between screaming heads. I’m thinking about getting one of those call bells.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Harvey tore through Houston and I’m thinking about how Island School students can help contribute to helping those who are injured no longer have homes. I found THIS article on what we can do. Now, Hurrican Irma is on her way in. Things look bad. I guess this is what happens when the world heats up.
On another depressing note, Trump is getting rid of DACA–the law that let immigrants stay in the country if they came here as children. That means people in the U.S. who are in college or working in good jobs will have to return back to the country they were born in, but may not have been to since they were toddlers. To find out more about this ridiculousness, watch the video below:
Anyhow, it’s almost midnight. Signing off. Oh, P.S., if you are the first in your class to tell me why Juan left Venezuela in the video above, I’ll give you a prize.
-September 4, 2017-
Jeesh, I’m getting nervous/excited about the first day of school. But I have a plan for the first day. Instead of a boring old review of how this class works, I’ll make a cool quiz using Kahoot!. After that, students will spend a few days creating their own Kahoot! about a social issue by clicking HERE. I’m crossing my fingers that Kahoot! will be a hit. If things go badly, I’ll close my eyes and think about THIS.
-September 1, 2017-
Ok, so I had this thought: Maybe it’s time to let you students into the brain of me, Dr. Lahana, AKA The Techbrarian. Every day or so, I will be creating a post full of my thoughts so that you can follow along. I’m pretty sure these thoughts will match up with my lessons, but who knows, I’ve never done this before. My writing will be pretty casual…meaning I will often be writing with crumby grammar and a friendly voice. Also, I’ll try to include something kooky for those cool enough to read it– like THIS.
THE TECH CAFE 
