Is attending college still worth the price? Even for families that can afford to send their kids to school, the risk often outweighs the reward when it comes to getting a college degree and entering the workforce. A new documentary from award-winning producer Ted Dintersmith and VPM follows students and teachers through an innovative program in Virginia where students explore diverse careers and master both traditional and new-economy skills.
“Imagine a high school that prepares its students for life, not multiple-choice exams,” said Dintersmith. “Well, that’s what I found three years ago when I visited a public school district in Winchester, Virginia. The Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center immerses every student in hands-on, real-world experiences in fields ranging from carpentry and welding to cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.
Multiple Choice premieres at 8 p.m. Sept. 3 on VPM PBS and the PBS App. Watch the trailer below.
“Multiple Choice is a film that investigates how we got to a world where pretty much everyone agrees that normal high school feels like a waste of time, preparing students for tests that look nothing like the rest of their lives,” said director Charles Haine. “More than that, it’s a film that tells a hopeful story about a school that has found a solution, integrating academics and job prep together, that hopefully can ripple out throughout education.”
Despite political turmoil and uncertainty due to rising technology, Multiple Choice offers an inspiring vision of kids finding purposeful paths, with a community united toward the goal of prosperity for all.
“Graduates heading directly into careers hit the ground running, and those pursuing college submit standout applications and make informed choices about their majors,” said Dintersmith. “Multiple Choice will inspire urgently needed innovation in our schools to help students thrive, injecting vitality into the local economy.”
Tune in to the premiere of Multiple Choice on Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. on VPM PBS and the PBS App.
