There is work to be done, to be done, to be done . . .

And our students receive us with open arms if we care, listen, and grow. It is an exciting, laborious adventure.

We can undo these comments by demonstrating care and attentiveness in the lives of adolescents. Mr. Pedraza does so and more--in his teaching, readings, and after-school projects with students.

The poem by Alvarez is powerful and a recording appears here.

Here is an example of inhumane language and practices advanced by leaders in consulting positions that provide professional mis- and under-development with damaging results.

Vang's poem affirms the lives and plight of young people. Moreover, he offers their ways of living and seeing hope and solace in the face of injustice.

That adolescents know the positions of power and listening confirms their deep knowledge and intuition in the face of indifference from many adults in schools and communities.

Their power and agency can be awakened in the presence of teachers when we practice the Latin verb assidere, "to sit beside" our students to enact the true meaning of the word "assessment."

It is significant to note that the new name is youth-LED participatory action research.

The word "youth-led" is powerful and sets the stage for gaining more voice and agency in thes lives adolescents.

Newpaper carriers--boys and girls--faced mobs and violence in many ways across the US and in the face of child labor and endangerment.

Some of today's rhetoric of violence applies to journalists and reporters today in this and many other countries, although laws protect children. Consider the newspaper boys and girls' Strike of 1899.

All of these literacies I bring into the classroom with footage and children's voices.