In 2010, Jim Sporleder, principal at Lincoln Alternative High School in Walla Walla, learned about the science of what a rough childhood does to a developing brain. “Stressed brains can’t learn” was his conclusion from an educational conference.
He returned to his school convinced that traditional punishments like suspension were only exacerbating the problems of the students there. He believed the answer was not in the curriculum and set about how to take this theory and put it into practice.
“Paper Tigers,” this month’s Meaningful Movies documentary, follows six troubled teens over the course of a year. The film shows how Sporleder successfully enlisted staff and students to learn about the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, which shows that stressful events during childhood — like divorce, domestic violence, homelessness or living with someone with a mental illness — massively increases the risk of problems in adulthood. Problems like addiction, suicide and even heart disease can have roots in childhood experiences.
This month, the community conversation following the movie will be the same evening as the screening. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver. The event will end by 9 p.m.
