PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, June 17, 2011

1-3 p.m.

 

CALL-IN @ 866-893-5722, 866-893-KPCC; OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

 

 

 

1:06 – 1:39

OPEN

 

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Belmont High students author The Light in the Shadows, a book about personal challenges

Join Patt for a discussion of The Light in the Shadows, a new book collectively written by students at LAUSD’s Belmont High School. Encouraged by English teacher Cassandra McGrath, the young contributors have authored an anthology of poetry and prose about the dark challenges that have shaped their lives, such as parental abandonment, domestic violence, drug abuse and cultural isolation. The stories, however, go beyond the portrayal of individual experience to reflect wider problems plaguing children from ethnic minorities and the public schools that service them. The book was published this month by the online company www.lulu.com, with all proceeds going to future writing projects at the school. How can some of the obstacles these students face be solved, and what in the system has to change to do it? Lend your ear to their story and weigh in with your education-related questions and comments.

 

Guests:

Students at Belmont High School whose pieces are included in the anthology:

Amber Donnelly, age 16, Grade 10 

IN STUDIO

 

Alexandra Morales, age17, Grade 11

IN STUDIO

 

Marco Delgado, age18, Grade 12

IN STUDIO

 

Their teacher:

Cassandra McGrath, English teacher at Belmont High School; her students are the authors of the prose and poetry anthology.

IN STUDIO

 

 

2:06 – 2:19

Project Fatherhood reminds us of the vital role that dads play

Father’s Day is about BBQ’s, letting dad sleep in and the traditional tie rack gift; but for some families it’s a poignant reminder about what’s missing in their lives.  According to the Pew Research Center nearly half of American dads under 45 say they have at least one child who was born out of wedlock and the percentage of fathers living apart from their children has more than doubled in the past 50 years.  The challenges of fatherhood are especially difficult for lower income dads—Pew found that college-educated men who tend to marry and get better jobs are more involved with their children than lesser-skilled men struggling to get by.  There are many men, by way of tough circumstances, bad planning and bad luck that are simply unprepared for fatherhood when they are thrust into the role.  Enter Project Fatherhood, a support program designed for low-income fathers that gives them the tools to actively participate in raising their children.  The one day Project Fatherhood conference is today in downtown L.A. with seminars on everything from being a father from behind prison walls to fathers and immigration.  For this Father’s Day we look after the struggling dads and emphasize that there is hope.

 

Guest:

Ronald Banks, clinical director of Project Fatherhood & a practicing psychologist

HE CALLS US:

• Project Fatherhood is a part of the Children’s Institute Inc.
• The 4^th Annual Fatherhood Solution Conference runs all day Friday at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

 

 

 

2:21:30 – 2:39

Do the clothes make the criminal?  Why defendants in glasses are more likely to be found not guilty

Glasses have long been a go-to for people attempting to look smart, but now some are saying they serve an additional purpose. The top reported fashion advice for the clients of defense lawyers: glasses. Legal experts everywhere swear by glasses "Glasses soften their appearance so that they don't look capable of committing a violent crime," said veteran lawyer Harvey Slovis. A study published in The Journal of Forensic Psychology corroborates these views, showing a correlation between glasses-wearing defendants and their success at trial. Glasses: good for looking smart, not getting punched in the face and now – avoiding jail-time. What could be next for these mysterious contraptions?

 

Guests:

Michael Brown, social-cognitive psychologist and professor at Oneonta University

CALL HIM:

 

 

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy’s Journey to Becoming a Big Kid

Few people get famous for being a nerd and Simon Pegg is no exception. For in addition to being a nerd he is also a talented writer! How else could he write his latest book Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy’s Journey to Becoming a Big Kid. Within these bifocaled pages are a myriad of tales ranging from Mr. Pegg’s more recent career as an actor, writer and comedian, to his earlier life and tales of being an awkward Star Wars fan. Featured within these, mostly, biographic stories are literary hallucinations manifested in interaction between Simon and his robot butler, Canterbury. Will we discover the nerd in all of us? Will we at least discover the nerd in Simon Pegg?

 

Guests:

Simon Pegg, is an English actor, comedian, producer, author and director

IN STUDIO

 

 

Jonathan Serviss
Senior Producer, Patt Morrison
Southern California Public Radio
NPR Affiliate for Los Angeles
89.3 KPCC-FM | 89.1 KUOR-FM | 90.3 KPCV-FM
626.583.5171, office
415.497.2131, mobile
jserviss@kpcc.org / jserviss@scpr.org
www.scpr.org