Arianna And AOL CEO Tim Armstrong Teach Journalism Class At Brooklyn Middle School (VIDEO)

On March 15, Arianna and AOL CEO Tim Armstrong visited middle schoolers at Urban Assembly Academy of Arts and Letters in Brooklyn to teach a class on journalism.

The lesson was a volunteer effort through Citizen Schools, a nonprofit that connects public middle schools in low-income communities throughout the country with professionals to share learning hands-on learning experiences.

"Our class with sixth through eighth graders at Brooklyn's Academy of Arts and Letters was inspiring, as the children showed an eagerness to learn and a hunger to engage," Arianna said. "That's why the work of Citizen Schools is so important. If given the opportunity to challenge themselves, even after the school day is over, schoolchildren will gladly take it. It's my hope that all companies and organizations will work to expand such opportunities for children."

WATCH:

The session kicked off a "30-Day Service Challenge" encouraging all AOL and Huffington Post employees worldwide to find ways to give back to their local communities.

Comments

[AmratheLion]

02:18 PM on 03/22/2011

Is this another one of those joke stories from "The Onion"?

[cybersense]

02:01 PM on 03/18/2011

okay for all you who are thinking that talking to kids this age about journalism isn't warranted, I say, why not. It isn't just about internet newspapers with commentary on the web, but it is about learning about that too. My my, such comments are really over concerned. hey, if you want to learn about journalism, and you are excited about it, you will no doubt have to take real courses. I have had a few comments regarding "real journalism". this whole thing is about interest and information. Holy smokes.

[tweeksmom]

10:00 AM on 03/18/2011

VERY interesting!

[NoChieuHois]

09:06 AM on 03/18/2011

It's nice to have experts teach or sit in. Lets talk about thr 800 lb Gorilla. Why is our education ranked where it is with all the money spent? Education is a two way street it takes active parents making damn sure their little darlings are doing their work. Look at the top ranked Countries on K to 12 education. Anything stand out? All socialistic. Don't jump off your seat just yet. Ask why or is their a real reason? Some won't like this either. Health care. They don't have to have a second income to pay for family Health Insurance. A lot of us do. They do not have as many 2 parents working as we do either. If you take the time to look back at our education ranking back in the 50's and 60's ( it's on the net) we were better. There also were less 2 income families. One big reason The wage earner had Health Ins as part of their income. It was a given.
I'll date my self I'm 62 when I was in school if you got sick you went to the Dr. or hospital with out a second thought.
Now we have that second income paying health Ins and No one home when the kids get home.
Coincidence? Food for thought

[Sergeant]

11:29 AM on 03/18/2011

As Bobby Knight used to say, it is all fundamentals. Most states have no more than 180 days school a year. Then parents take kids out for vacations or personal events. Then there are just days missed. I am guessing that most kids don't get more than maybe 150 days of education a year if that. Meanwhile the boob tube is blasting or games are on or mommy and daddy don't have time to help with the homework. It is amazing that our kids do as well as they do.

Meanwhile throughout the rest of the world education is seen as the way up and out. Kids go to school most of the year.

Years ago there was a national study by a president. I am not remembering who. But I remember the result. One statement stood out. The writer said that if another country did to it's children what we do to ours in education it would be considered an act of war.

It isn't about money. It is about priorities.

[fozzi58]

01:08 PM on 03/18/2011

Parents are directly responsible for how their children engage education in general. However, economic disparities force parents to let the children engage education on their own.

Parents can't be blamed when they are forced to work longer hours, or two jobs, or night shift jobs just to make ends meet. Its a lot of responsibility to throw on our children when there is very little guidance or assistance at home.

[AmratheLion]

03:17 PM on 03/22/2011

So when were the experts supposed to show up? I didn't see them mentioned in the article.

[cybersense]

08:59 AM on 03/18/2011

I actually see this as a good thing. Kids at this age really start to think about what they want to do when they "grow up". Good age and how neat they did this. I know I sound too optimistic to some of you, but I had kids that I encouraged in anyway I could. This is great at this age to talk about "journalism".

[WOODSTOCKER51]

08:39 AM on 03/18/2011

IMAGINE BEING A SIXTH GRADER.AND GOING HOME TO FIND YOUR PARENTS WATCHING "FOOL NEWS'..AND THINKING THAT IS FACTUAL...

ITS NO WONDER AMERICA IS IN A MESS!

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

08:52 AM on 03/18/2011

THAT -- AND ALL OF THE SCREAMING!

[Mr Hoodoo]

11:19 AM on 03/18/2011

WHAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE FIRST POST!!

[LonosCurse]

09:38 AM on 03/18/2011

Did they bring snacks?

[Heather Day]

01:16 PM on 03/18/2011

They collaborated with the Citizen Schools staff to prep and develop a detailed lesson plan with objectives, engaging opening, middle, and closing activities, whole class and small group work, and snacks, and parent communication.

[Paul The Octopus]

08:52 AM on 03/18/2011

me too! :-)

[Lilly-G]

09:08 AM on 03/18/2011

Yeah, I would have too, but no.

[Tigerama]

07:58 AM on 03/18/2011

I switched to Firefox for that very reason - cleared up most of it.

[YLS2007]

08:16 AM on 03/18/2011

Adblock Plus deletes 100% of the ads on this site.

[donaldinks]

09:08 AM on 03/18/2011

...that's real "nice" of them.

[Schneb]

11:26 PM on 03/17/2011

Not to be too fussy about this, but did they grade papers? Did they prep a lesson plan with some sort of outcome in mind? Did they call a parent? Did do the 100 mundane things like make copies or take attendance that eat up the free period of the day, so that they toted home a stack of kids papers to face at 9:00 or 10:00 at night (after they made their own dinner, did some laundry, and put their kids to bed)?

How about we instead say that they visited the class and gave a talk?

I wouldn't be so up-in-arms about use of the word 'teaching' in the headline, except lately a lot of people seem ready bash teachers--ALL and ANY teacher--so the idea of someone easily and lightly stepping into the room and doing that job who doesn't normally do so, and doesn't really face the heavier duties involved touches a raw nerve.

BUT: DO lets have people come into classrooms to share their experiences with kids. That's almost always a great experience for both the kids and the visitor. And we could do with a lot more people actually seeing a school in operation.

[JackRusselTerrier]

11:48 PM on 03/17/2011

Well said.

[SPQR1052]

07:03 AM on 03/18/2011

co sign

[Absolute]

10:35 PM on 03/17/2011

Why?

[FiredUpRTG]

07:55 AM on 03/18/2011

One thing, I bet 90% of those kids had never heard of HuffPo, nor knew what a journalist/internet blogger did until they had to study it for the visit. Second, there may be a kid there who wanted to write news and commentary but didn't know what the title of the occupation was nor how to go about becoming one. Third, when visitors come and share time with kids -- who already have received the message that no one gives a darn about them -- it makes the kids feel important. Fourth, it's a break from "boring" routine classwork!

[Absolute]

07:48 PM on 03/18/2011

1. You are underestimating those children.
2. You are underestimating those children, their parents and their teachers.
3. Students know that there are many adults who care about them, they are smart enough to know that those adults are not the ones who come in for a visit and are never seen again
4. Yes, students need variety in their routine. On that point I agree with you.

[masterdaddy0]

09:48 PM on 03/17/2011

Yea Brooklyn!

[MyTake]

09:47 PM on 03/17/2011

Two adults per classroom.

This is exactly what the Nation needs in its eduction system for this century.

One adult does the teaching, the other adult manages the needs of those students.

[BobEvansZombie]

06:06 AM on 03/18/2011

Hear hear!

[dwright]

07:06 AM on 03/18/2011

actually it is time for the parents to handle the needs of their kids

[Tigerama]

07:58 AM on 03/18/2011

Thank you for saying that.

[angelrubes]

09:09 AM on 03/18/2011

Parents can't be at two places at once. Students needs are not just those that can be addressed at home. It's not such a (no pun intended) "black & white" issue. Many issues that are not able to be addressed at home are addressed in the schools. Students spend more time in the classroom than at home, and if they are 'latch key" students, as many in Brooklyn have both parents working often late in the evening, there is even less time during the school week. We have to be prepared, society is getting more complicated and the issues that confront students as well as their parents are are multi-faceted.

[russlibertarian]

09:46 PM on 03/17/2011

I am wondering about something. Is Arianna working for a good corporation or a bad one? Corporations can be good, right?

[BobEvansZombie]

06:06 AM on 03/18/2011

Can, but in today's day and age, usually are not.

[FiredUpRTG]

07:56 AM on 03/18/2011

They're trying to make other schools have inferiority complexes?