This is how one teacher raised attendance in a problem class from 40% to 93%

Stephen Ritz, a teacher from the Bronx, was little different from most of his colleagues until the worst thing that can happen in a parent's life - the death of a child.

The tragedy greatly changed the man, but did not break him. Stephen soon decided to focus on helping the most disadvantaged children in his area and began teaching at a school where only 17% of students received a high school diploma, and the rest stopped attending classes and then failed their final exams.

Violence and poverty reigned in the school, but even more there were very hungry children. 99% of Stephen's wards needed free meals.

The Bronx is one of the areas that nutritionists call "food deserts." This means that there is no way for residents to purchase healthy food. After all, they mostly buy cheap food in tiny shops, the range of which is very far from healthy, or even eat fast food.

Poor nutrition, in addition to physical illness, also causes psychological problems, especially if the child does not know if he will be able to eat today.

One day Stephen had a brilliant idea. It all started with the fact that someone gave him a box of daffodil bulbs. He hid it in the classroom behind a radiator, fearing that the children would find the bulbs and start throwing them at each other. Soon, the bulbs sprouted and turned into flowers, and the very process of their growth impressed the students unusually.

And Steve thought, if the kids liked the daffodils so much, then they'll probably like other plants, like edible ones. In other words, children could grow their own food in school.

This was the beginning of the charity Green Bronx Machine, which teaches children and adolescents the basics of good nutrition, gives them the opportunity to learn how to grow vegetables and herbs themselves, and even take the harvest home to share with the family.

Today, thanks to this organization, many school gardens and greenhouses have been created not only in the Bronx, but throughout New York and other cities in the United States. This allows students to eat better and also creates jobs for teenagers. In addition, the performance of young gardeners has improved markedly, as well as attendance. In Steve's class, it grew from 40% to 93%, and in the future, absolutely all of his students were able to successfully pass the final exams.

“Children should be taught healthy nutrition where they need it most - at school. And if at the same time they can take the fruits of their labor home to share with their parents - what could be better? "

Source of Internet