The South Pasadena Middle School (SPMS) PTA will be hosting a free screening of the documentary film “Race To Nowhere: The Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture” Friday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in the SPMS auditorium. The screening is open to the public and reservations are recommended. The film will be followed by a panel of special guests to answer questions in addition to discussing the current academic news events.

“Coincidentally, it relates to the whole college admission scandal,” said Shang Hur, vice president of programs at SPMS PTA.

The internationally award-winning 85-minute documentary was made in 2009 and serves as a call to “challenge current thinking about how we prepare our children for success,” according to the film’s website. The film follows the stories of young people across the United States who have felt pushed to extremes, educators who feel burned out and concerned students aren’t developing balanced life skills and parents who are seeking the best for their children. First-time filmmaker Vicki Abeles, a Northern California lawyer and mother of three, decided to make the film when her children began experiencing school-related stress and panic attacks. The film seeks to create conversations on the health of the education system.

The screening is part of the ongoing program where films and discussions will be held each month on a different pressing topic in order to support the social and emotional development of students and families in South Pasadena.

To register, visit www.spms-pta-race.eventbrite.com. To learn more about the film, visit www.racetonowhere.com.