The Pushouts

About the Film

If you’re an educator and haven’t seen the film The Pushouts, you should. The documentary follows Victor Rios, who examines a broken education system bringing attention to the fact that the kids society often refers to as “dropouts” are in reality, being “pushed out” by the system. Rios, a former gang member turned award-winning professor and speaker, calls on educators to quit labeling kids as “at-risk” and start saying “at-promise” to recognize their potential.

I was proud to bring this film to the University of Maryland, College Park during my graduate career while serving as a representative in the College of Education’s Graduate Student Organization in collaboration with UMD’s Multicultural Involvement Community Advocacy (MICA) + Critical Race Initiative (CRI). Thank you, Dr. Rios, for sharing your powerful story and message with the world!

To see my takeaways from the film, read on. To learn more about the story behind the film and watch the trailer, visit The Pushouts!

“The most dangerous weapon is to be an educated brother or sister.”
Tupac Shakur

Takeaways From the Film

Insight Into the World of Gangs

Too often folks are quick to make presumptions about how people end up in gangs. The film addresses the assumptions of mainstream society as well as the stereotypes and prejudice that haunt gang members.

Here are some facts for enlightenment:

Fact #1: One of the reasons teens find themselves in gangs is because of their need for belonging. Young men in particular turn to this type of “brotherhood” often because of the breakdown of their own families.

Fact #2: Poverty, unemployment, and housing are all factors that play a role in the increase in gang presence and violence.

Fact #3: Once you’re in a gang, it’s hard to get out. One of the young men in the film states, “Even if you leave a gang, they always remember you.”

“Pushed Out” of the System

Teens find themselves being kicked out or pushed out of the education system for several reasons. And most of the time, it’s for reasons beyond their control. So where do many of these kids end up? In prison. In fact, the number of young Black men behind bars as a result of “Zero-Tolerance” school discipline policies is staggering, so much so there’s a name for it. It’s called the “School-to-Prison Pipeline.” Sadly, studies show that zero-tolerance policies disproportionately impact students of color and students with disabilities. So how do students get “pushed out” of the system?

Let’s take a look at some of the unfortunate pathways to prison:

• Low grades
• Abuse
• Homelessness
• Trauma
• Working to earn money for their families

A Better Education System

What can schools do to create more equitable opportunities for our kids in urban areas? Well, creating access to positive outlets and providing resources where they are needed is a great place to start. But the list doesn’t end there.

School communities can also:

• Set new norms. (e.g., “You’re intelligent,” “You have a lot to offer the world,” “I believe in you,” etc.)
• Tell “stories of resilience” instead of “stories of detriment.”
• Address the school-to-prison pipeline and mass incarceration.
• Foster meaningful connections between students and school staff.
• Appoint teachers and school leaders as mentors and facilitators.
• Build trust and a network of supporters.
• Last but not least, substitute phrases like “at-risk” for “at-promise” to recognize the potential in students!

Stay tuned for more on zero-tolerance policies and the school-to-prison pipeline. For now, head on over to my Resources page to watch Dr. Victor Rios’ inspiring TED Talk!

“Believe in yourself so much, you can accomplish the unbelievable.”
Victor Rios