Last Thursday, the Richard Rosenthal Jewish Community Center (JCC) hosted a free screening of the increasingly popular Race to Nowhere documentary, followed by a lively discussion on a very emotional topic–excessive performance pressure on American students.

The event was organized by The Jewish Education Project led by their Communal Education Consultant, Nike Silberstein.

The film takes an intimate and poignant view of a pervasive culture plaguing our country–demanding unrealistic academic achievement and athletic distinction from today’s teenagers. It is an issue being dealt with coast to coast not specific to any particular demographic set. Told through a series of interviews and vignettes, the film portrays teachers’ frustrations with “teaching to the test;” students grappling with unrelenting academic demands; and psychologists offering concern and advice on it all.

Nike Silberstein, of the Jewish Education Project stated, “When the organization heard about the film we wanted to offer a particular Jewish lens on a universal issue. How do we really understand our teens as people holistically, and how can we create an environment in which they can learn deeply and effectively.”

Jessica Morgenthal Board President of the JCC concurred.

“We are a community that represents the high pressure, high expectations that is a topic of conversation among all our neighboring communities. We are stepping back and realizing the pressure and expectations we are putting on our kids and ourselves.”

Parents agreed as well.

Mother of four and attendee Deborah Goldman said, “Just getting here was the race to nowhere….driving here, kids, homework; it’s a constant treadmill trying to figure out how to balance everything.”

Vicki Bergstrom, who is the mother of a seventh grader and missed the Chappaqua screening of the film, was first introduced to the film while watching the Today Show.

“It looked interesting. Our kids are over scheduled, and it especially ramps up in middle school. I want to be a fly on the wall as I watch the movie," she said.

Although the film posed more questions than it answered, Dr. Barbara Gochberg, a clinical psychologist, was on hand at the film’s conclusion to interact with and answer questions of concerned parents.

She pointed out “this film is not a condemnation of the education system and our parenting, but it is it about taking a calmer perspective.”

Referring to the Jewish lens, Gochberg continued, “The divine spark doesn’t translate into SAT scores or making the track team.”

Gochberg additionally claimed, “There is no such thing as an adolescent without stress, it’s not about shielding them, it’s about stress management for children and parents.”

Gochberg reminded parents, “Relationships endure well past getting your kid into college.”

Apparently no one is exempt from feeling the pain.

Even Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, author of several books topical to the film, is seen in the film admitting to the anxiety he experiences concerning his two teenage daughters getting into a good college.

The key, revealed Gochberg, is starting a conversation.

“It can start in your house…conversation happens slowly, in bits, and you can begin to create change with that conversation," she said.