Ignore Donald Trump; Vote on President Obama's Graduation Speech

Here's the quick & dirty:

• Please click here to vote on which HS graduation Pres. Obama should attend.


• We'd be most grateful if you'd please score Pittsburgh CAPA School as a 5



• How should you score those other fine schools?
  Remember what the Zen Master told the Hot Dog Vendor: "Make me ONE with everything".


• Voting closes this Friday at 2359.
• In the words of Rahm Emmanuel: Vote Early, Vote Often!

Pittsburgh CAPA is a 5!

Thank you very much.

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Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 commits to making connections. Our academic program fuses civics with botany, mathematics with visual art and foreign language with filmmaking. Technology is a critical part of the curriculum: websites, videos, Pod Casts and computer-based projects supplement our learning.

Artistically, students are dedicated to collaboration. Whether it's the annual Literary Arts/Theater Department Ten-Minute Play Festival or the Vocal Department's joint productions with Pittsburgh Opera Theater, ideas are constantly being shared, questioned, and embraced. Our Downtown location allows for extraordinarily enriching excursions. Environmental Science students may collect water samples from the Monongahela River while a Physical Education class plays softball in Point State Park. CAPA's urban campus gives us increased awareness of need in the city.

Students regularly organize charity benefits, and our Amnesty International chapter holds demonstrations in the cafeteria. High school poets read at a local community center for the elderly, and the Musical Theater Department performs often at the Children's Hospital. From the beginning of our time at CAPA, we know that everything we learn is meant to help us create change.

Each student's unique artistic perspective broadens each individual's horizons. Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 students represent all of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods, pulling inspiration from every corner of the city. The broad range of cultural, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds influence a broad outlook; everything from sexual orientation to politics encourages discussion and stimulates growth. Each student goes into the future with full respect for diversity: of thought, of art, and of people




hat tip: Comet

Why President Obama should attend the CAPA Graduation: Jordan Miles

Various reports suggest that President Obama may participate in the graduation exercises at the Pittsburgh School for the Creative and Performing Arts (aka CAPA 6-12), which is one of six finalists in the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.

The other finalists are Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Wash.; Wayne Early Middle College High School in Goldsboro, N.C.; Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tenn.; Science Park High School in Newark, N.J.; and High Tech High International in San Diego.

There are probably great reasons for President Obama to visit any of these schools, which are all fine examples of best-in-class education programs. There's one great reason for President Obama to attend the CAPA ceremony: he can have CAPA alumni Jordan Miles and his mother, Terez Miles, sitting with him.



Jordan Miles is the CAPA student who was attacked, assaulted, and beaten without cause by three Pittsburgh police officers. The picture on the above-left is "before" the beating; the picture on the above-right is "after" they pulled the hair out of his head. Jordan Miles has passed polygraph tests confirming his report. There has been no action taken on the three police officers who beat him, other than putting them on fully paid administrative leave - in other words, a no-show, paid vacation including overtime, etc.

Imagine the moment when the President of the United States says to the audience, "You think I'm important? I think Jordan Miles is important."

That's a moment worth the President's time, and that's why President Obama should attend the CAPA graduation ceremony.