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By Root 736 0

dopamine system, which plays a large role in developing the ability to innovate, reaches its peak in activity during the teenage years. In addition, gray matter density in the posterior temporal and inferior parietal lobes of the brain increases until approximately age thirty. These areas of the brain are related to perception, which is “the most plastic and adaptable of all cognitive functions,” according to the book Iconoclast. “This may explain why so many of the early adopters [of new ideas] tend to be young adults. In addition to a robust dopamine system, their perceptual processes are more open to seeing the world in new ways.” From a biological perspective, the schooling years are the most important years in which to foster creativity, individuality, and open-mindedness. And what that means is, our schools are dissuading teens and young adults from pursuing critical educational paths at precisely the best time for students to do so.

Chapter 11

TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK

JOY, CALIFORNIA | THE NEW GIRL

In PE, Joy’s class was running the mile when Joy passed Lupe, one of the Mexican girls who had harassed her. She was alone and looked upset. Joy slowed down. “Are you okay?” Joy asked, jogging in place.

Lupe looked surprised, then smiled. “Yes,” she said.

Joy smiled back and ran on. Lately Joy had made a valiant effort to befriend students of various cultures. She talked to D’Arnell, the sophomore, between classes sometimes. She had resumed chatting with Natalie, who even sought Joy out occasionally, despite her friends’ disapproval. She also had become close friends with Christine, the Filipino girl in two of her classes.

A few days later, Mia approached Joy in PE. “What up with it? How you kicking it, mami?” Mia asked.

Joy raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?!”

Mia laughed. “It’s what’s up, or what’s up with you.”

“That’s funny,” Joy said.

“You’re funny!” Mia said. “It’s cool, though. You don’t speak Spanish, right?”

“No, I don’t, but I’m trying to learn. I’m terrible at it!” Joy said. “I’ve been doing it since grade two.”

“Wow,” Mia said. “So how do you say what’s up in Jamaica?”

“Wah gwan,” Joy replied.

“¡¿Qué?!”

Joy laughed. “Wah gwan. It’s really dialect.”

“Oh. Jamaican isn’t a language?”

“It’s a language—I mean, we speak it—but we call it a dialect because it isn’t recorded as a language. The real name is patois.”

“That’s cool,” Mia said.

For the final weeks of PE, Joy and Christine debated which sport to sign up for. Christine insisted they swim, even though Joy couldn’t swim well. As they handed in their choice cards among a swarm of students, Joy said, “Come on, let’s switch to dance.”

“No, Joy!”

Joy laughed. “You bitch! Please!”

“Your mom,” Christine said.

“You hobag!” Joy said.

Lupe and Mia, who stood in front of them, turned around. “You curse now?!” asked Lupe.

Christine laughed. “She always cursed.”

“You’re different than I expected,” Lupe said.

“I’m not that different,” said Joy.

“Hey, so which activity are you doing?” Mia asked.

“We’re doing swim,” said Joy.

“Hey, me too,” Mia said. “We can talk.”

“Of course!” Joy said.

A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WAS playing hip-hop music on the AP English teacher’s computer. The students couldn’t believe it. “He’s playing music! Is he allowed to do that?!” one student whispered.

This quarter Joy’s assigned seat was by the door, behind a girl named Pooja, who kept turning around and glaring at Joy. Joy stared back. What’s she looking at? Joy thought. She was in a bad mood to begin with. In PE the day before, students on the opposing volleyball team decided the game would be more fun if they pegged the ball at Joy’s head. A skater had hit her, hard.

Xavier asked the sub to play another song, but when the teacher realized the lyrics were explicit, he paused it. “I can’t play any songs that are dirty,” the sub said. “I’ll put on this one.” He turned on a Sean Paul song.

Joy laughed. The sub had chosen a song containing multiple sexual references. “You just don’t think it’s dirty because you don’t understand Jamaican,” she