It’s not uncommon for parents to have differences of opinion about the way their kids’ school chooses to do things. But sometimes the baffling decisions schools and teachers make can leave us rubbing our eyes and unsure if we’re losing our minds. In 2017, Stephen Callaghan’s daughter Ruby came home from school. When he asked her how her day was, her answer made him raise an eyebrow. Ruby, who was in the sixth grade at her school in Australia, told her dad that the boys would soon be taken on a field trip to Bunnings (a hardware chain in the area) to learn about construction. The girls, on the other hand? While the boys were out learning, they would be sent to the library to have their hair and makeup done. Ruby’s reply made Callaghan do a double take. What year was it, again? The days of boys taking shop while the girls take home economics are supposed to be long gone. It was time to write a letter Callaghan decided to write a letter to the school sharing his disappointment, but his wasn’t your typical “outraged parent” letter. He wrote: Dear Principal, I must draw your attention to a serious incident which occurred yesterday at your school where my daughter Ruby is a Year 6 student. When Ruby left for school yesterday it was 2017 but when she returned home in the afternoon she was from 1968. I know this to be the case as Ruby informed me that the “girls” in Year 6 would be attending the school library to get their hair and make-up done on Monday afternoon while the “boys” are going to Bunnings. Are you able to search the school buildings for a rip in the space-time continuum? Perhaps there is a faulty Flux Capacitor hidden away in the girls toilet block. I look forward to this being rectified and my daughter and other girls at the school being returned to this millennium where school activities are not sharply divided along gender lines. Yours respectfully Stephen Callaghan The letter went viral overnight When Callaghan posted the letter to Twitter (since deleted), it quickly went viral and inspired hundreds of supportive responses. Though most people who saw his response to the school’s egregiously outdated activities applauded him, not everyone was on board. One commenter wrote, “Sometimes it is just ok for girls to do girl things.” But Callaghan was ready for that. “Never said it wasn’t,” he replied. “But you’ve missed the point. Why ‘girl things’ or ‘boy things’… Why not just ‘things anyone can do?'” He’s got a point, history shows Though he’s exaggerated the point, the point still stands. In the 1970s, girls were known to be expelled or even arrested for wearing uniform pants instead of their assigned uniform skirts. They also often had no option to participate in metal or wood shop and were compelled to take home economics. And, of course, many of the top universities at the time would not even consider women applicants. Callaghan later commented that he didn’t think the school’s plan was as malicious as all that, but noted the incident was a powerful example of “everyday sexism” at work. Callaghan says the school hasn’t responded to his letter. (Yes, he really sent it.) At least, not directly to him. Some media outlets have reported that the school claims students are free to opt in and out of the different activities. But, as Callaghan says, gendering activities like this in the first place sends the completely wrong message. It’s not much different than telling kids that pink is for girls and dinosaurs are for boys. It ends up limiting everyone. Tell Ruby, to always stand tall and be proud. There is NOTHING in this world she can’t do, achieve , learn if she wants it. Keep banging down doors, don’t take no for an answer xx— Nessa (@wimmerachic) December 7, 2017 Here’s what he wants for his daughter In response to the outpouring of support, Callaghan again took to Twitter. “At 12 years of age my daughter is starting to notice there are plenty of people prepared to tell her what she can and can’t do based solely on the fact she is female,” he wrote. “She would like this to change. So would I.” This article originally appeared nine years ago. It has been updated. The post A dad’s hilarious ‘time-travel’ letter to school demands explanation for bizarre field trip appeared first on Upworthy.

Rodney Smith Jr., of Huntsville, Alabama, was profiled by KMBC in 2023 for his generous donation to two 11-year-olds who completed his 50 Yard Challenge in Gadsden, Alabama. Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice, founders of TJ & JT Mowing Service, completed Smith’s challenge to mow 50 yards for the elderly, veterans, and people unable to care for their lawns for free. “I’m heading down to Gadsden right now. These are good, hard-working kids that deserve some gratitude,” Smith, known as “The Lawnmower Man,” told KMBC. Smith had been told that Taylor and Rice were sharing an old lawnmower that a neighbor had donated to them. When he arrived, he gave both teens a mower, a blower, and a trimmer for their hard work, hoping they would use their new equipment to expand their business. “Giving these boys lawn equipment is teaching them discipline,” Smith said. “If they tell someone they are going to mow a lawn, they need to mow the lawn.” “Remember, this is not the end; it’s just the beginning,” Smith added. “This could be the beginning of a successful lawn service.” How the Lawnmower Man got started Smith’s commitment to caring for people’s lawns began in 2015, and the following year he went viral for helping a 93-year-old woman who could no longer mow her lawn. The photo of Smith and the woman received over 1 million likes. Upworthy previously profiled Smith for setting a bold goal of mowing lawns for free in all 50 states. His goal was to promote his initiative that “provides free lawn care to our elders, those who are disabled, single mothers, and our veterans, who do not have the time, resources, and/or money to manicure their yards.” As part of this goal, he created the 50 Yard Challenge, which has been a smashing success. Brian of Colby, Wisconsin ,who is taking part in our 50 yard challenge mowed a lawn recently ! pic.twitter.com/AXIgRg4gHY— Rodney Smith Jr (@iamrodneysmith) June 13, 2026 Thousands of kids are taking part As of May 2023, 4,588 pre-teens and teens are participating in this challenge across the United States. If everyone completes the challenge, the total number of lawns mowed for free by Smith’s Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service will reach 229,400. Kids and teens can take part in the challenge by sending them a photo holding up a sign that says, “I accept the 50 Yard Challenge,” and in return, they’ll receive a white Raising Men/Women shirt along with shades and ear protection to get started. For every 10 lawns cut, they will get a new color shirt. • 10 lawns earn an orange shirt • 20 lawns earn a green shirt • 30 lawns earn a blue shirt • 40 lawns earn a red shirt • 50 lawns earn a black shirt The 50-Yard Challenge also promotes safe gardening. “This challenge is meant to be fun and also to help people, but first and foremost, like I said, safety comes first,” Smith says. In the video, he and his friends explain why it’s important for those who take the challenge to always wear safety equipment, ensure the lawn is cleared of debris, and wait until the lawn is dry before mowing. Here’s what they get for finishing After completing the challenge, the child or teen will receive a mower, a blower, and a trimmer, just like Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice from Alabama. Smith’s story is an incredible example of how one good deed from a kind-hearted person can lead to an outpouring of kindness across the country. It also teaches young people the values of giving back, self-discipline, and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Smith’s nonprofit and donate at Weareraisingmen.com. This article originally appeared three ago. It has been updated. The post 11-year-olds mowed 50 lawns for free so the ‘Lawnmower Man’ donated gear to open a business appeared first on Upworthy.

The Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) has a number of unique habits and a less-than-positive reputation among younger generations. Millennials have stated that Boomer grandparents are all but absent and glued to their phones. And younger generations have coined the phrase “boomer panic” to describe what they see as Boomers becoming rather unhinged when facing minor life problems. But what do Boomers have to say? One Gen Zer on Reddit gave Boomers the floor to try to understand their experience and perspective better. They posed the question: “Why do boomers act angry all of the time when they had the happiest lives out of every generation alive today?” They went on to explain that from a Gen Z point of view, Boomers have had it pretty good. “Boomers literally had the easiest life out of every generation that came after it. They got out of the house at 18. They got jobs by walking into stores and asking for a job. They got jobs in the field that they got their college degree in. They didn’t deal with dating apps,” they wrote. And they concluded the post with an earnest assessment: “Like, I don’t understand why they are always so angry and act like they had the hardest life out of every generation alive today when they had the easiest.” The post prompted an honest discussion, with many Boomers explaining where their “angry” disposition comes from in ways that may be enlightening to younger generations. Most challenged the perception that Boomers are angry, and some offered humorous responses. Here’s what Boomers actually said “I am a baby boomer. I did move out at 18 years old. I started working full time at 17 years old. I am pretty happy most of the time. But, it has NEVER been easy for me. I am the only one of my two siblings that did not get a college education. I just retired at 65 this year. I slept for three weeks-due to stress and exhaustion. I am so poor now, but that happiest I’ve ever been in my life now! Goldie Happy Holidays! P.S. I have always worked 2-3 jobs all of my life.” – rgold02 “As an aging boomer and student of history, one of my greatest achievements is that I have developed a keen sense of empathy and compassion. Everyone struggles, no one makes it alone, and we need to share whatever resources we have to keep the game going.” – IndicationCurrent869 “Not ‘easiest’, just more fun. Boomers remember hope in the air. They’re pissed that everything’s turned to sh*t.” – Responsible-War5600 “Life is not always easy for everyone, boomer or not. When you are a boomer, obviously you know you are going to die at some point. However don’t know what health issues come up or things that go wrong with your body. I am not an angry person, it’s just not in my nature, I strive to be kind to everyone.” – Samurai_Cupcake “I’m a boomer. I’m not angry as most of the time im rather happy and enjoy knowing the young uns. I did have a happy childhood but also had a mom who abused all us kids. Drove my brother to become an alcoholic to cope with his trauma from her. He died young from it. It was a tragedy. Its hard to know or judge others lives even if it may seem great from your pov. All I want is to get on with others. Conflict and fighting really hurts my soul. I saw a lot of it growing up. Despite that I chose not to be like that. Not to be angry and have conflict if I can avoid it. We’re all different despite being boomers or gen x . Whatever.” – AcrobaticProgram4752 “I’m not angry. I got out of the house at 18 by working one or two part time jobs while going to college. It was not easy to find jobs. I worked in a blue collar job right out of school. I didn’t get a job in my field ’til I was well into my 20s because there was a recession. Every generation has sh*t to get through.” – schnozzberryflop “Retired boomer here. Definitely not an angry person. In fact, I’m really happy and thankful my efforts have paid off. My kids (four of them) will do well also. Why? Cuz I taught them what my dad taught me: Earn it! And, don’t be a drain on others.” – OrlandoEd Some answers were short and blunt “Lead Poisoning.” – grethro “Lead, plastics, entitlement, wealth.” – theMEtheWORLDcantSEE “Wait until your kids or grandkids work to upend everything you’ve fought for and see how you feel then.” – Ok-Profit6022 “Why does seem to think that all boomers are living high on the hog? I live in a cheap apartment, have no savings, my car is 20 years old, and I can barely afford food. Not every boomer grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth. There are plenty of us that are just scratching by.” – HopefulButHelpless12 “Because we’ve seen those opportunities we had disappear, all so we can have a bunch of billionaires hoard our collective wealth and hide it in tax shelters for bragging rights.” – RealBLAlley63 “Weak times create weak people.” – AdStrange6636 “You have no clue. I worked 3 jobs. Lost my main one and couldn’t find another. We didn’t have internet to see jobs. I asked for the job I lost back and they gave it to me. I started working at 14.” – ClearUniversity1550 “Boomer here. Yeah i get angry. But i just don’t give a sh*t anymore. I’ll say ‘on my mind w/o worrying abt offending others. So there’s that. But I wasn’t handed a damn thing. Worked my *ss off for everything.” – Most_Nothing_1017 Maybe it’s not about who had it worse What stands out most isn’t anger at all. It’s exhaustion, and a generation that’s spent decades being told their hardships don’t count because someone, somewhere, had it worse. Maybe the real takeaway here isn’t about who had it easier. It’s that every generation has carried something heavy, and a little more listening across the generational divide might go a long way. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post A Gen Zer asked Boomers to explain why they come off as ‘angry.’ They replied with vintage honesty. appeared first on Upworthy.

Every once in a while, a gem of an old performance starts trending online, and you wonder, how have I never seen that before? Michael Jackson is one of the most popular entertainers ever to live, and Roberta Flack is one of the most prominent singers of the ‘70s, so where has their magical performance together in 1974 on the Free to Be…You and Me TV special been hiding all this time? The TV special was based on a popular 1972 album put together by the actress Marlo Thomas, fresh off her hit show That Girl, and was sponsored byMs., a popular feminist magazine. The goal of the project, which would become a gold album, a television special, and a foundation, was to show the younger generation that they can be whoever they want to be. The video gained attention recently after being shared on X by Melodies and Masterpieces. Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack sing ‘When We Grow Up’ Diana Ross originally sang “When We Grow Up” on the album, but Jackson and Flack sang it as a duet on the TV show, dressed as kids hanging out in an attic. The song is all about self-acceptance. Well, I don’t care if you’re pretty at all And I don’t care if you never get tall. I like what you look like… … and you’re nice small. We don’t have to change at all. During the performance, there were a few slight nods to The Marx Brothers, with Jackson shaking his fake microphone like Groucho did with his cigar. The pair also pretend to be mirror images of one another, a famous bit from the 1933 Marx Brothers’ film Duck Soup. Both children hope for a future when they can visit the moon, a big topic just five years after the Apollo 11 mission. The pair also pretends to walk on the moon, a nice bit of foreshadowing for Jackson’s dance move that would propel him to superstardom. Roberta Flack on working with Michael Jackson Years later, in 2017, Flack talked about working with Jackson, noting that he didn’t need to prepare much for the performance. “I always felt that Michael Jackson was one of the people who didn’t have to prepare that much, even from the time he was a very little kid,” she told The Huffington Post. “I mean, I think I’m sweeter than he is in the video with my ponytails. (laughs) But I’ll tell you, it was such a joy to work with him because he was so bright and sharp. We didn’t have to do it a bunch of times. We did it a few times, and it was a lot of fun. When you have that sort of innate and instinctive gift, you can sort of relax and let it flow. But sometimes, you have to be truly inspired. Even Michael had to be truly inspired.” That same year, 1974, Jackson and his brothers, The Jackson 5, covered Flack’s mammoth hit, “Killing Me Softly,” on The Tonight Show. The performance was a medley that also featured “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” sung by Jermaine, and “Danny Boy,” by Jackie. It’s easy to forget that before he was the King of Pop, Michael Jackson was just a kid singing about being okay with who you are, alongside one of the greatest voices of his generation. Decades later, the message still lands. Maybe even more than it did then. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post Resurfaced clip of young Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack singing ‘When We Grow Up’ is pure magic appeared first on Upworthy.

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) is one of the most important figures in philosophy because, rather than focusing on reason, he argued that desire is central to human experience. His work is often regarded as primarily pessimistic because he believed that our desires and drives lead to suffering. He was also ahead of his time in focusing on unconscious motives and in incorporating Eastern ideas into his philosophy. Clearly, Schopenhauer was a highly intelligent person who also hung around many similarly gifted people. He had some thoughts on how people can recognize whether someone is highly intelligent. Julian de Medeiros, a TikToker and Substacker who shares his thoughts on philosophy, identified two indicators Schopenhauer considered signs of extreme intelligence. What are the signs that someone is highly intelligent? @julianphilosophy Simple sign of intelligence #intelligent #work #introvert #life #philosophy ♬ original sound – Julian de Medeiros 1. Intelligent people are socially awkward “[Schopenhauer] basically argued that the more intelligent somebody is the more they struggle with social interactions. Or, as he put it, the more intelligent someone is the more at risk they are of becoming antisocial,” de Medeiros says. “What he meant is that intelligent people like to be alone. They tend to be natural introverts. In fact, they have a small select group of people they trust, and they feel a little bit uncomfortable when surrounded by other people, especially strangers.” 2. Intelligent people are sensitive to sounds “He also said, intelligent people are very sensitive to sound. They really like to control their environment,” de Medeiros continues. “So Schopenhauer was basically saying that the more intelligent somebody is, the more they relish their time and space, the more they like to be alone, the more intelligent the person is, the more they like to keep their own company.” Schopenhauer wrote an essay, “On Noise,” where he made the connection between sound and intelligence: “Certainly there are people, nay, very many, who will smile at [my predicament], because they are not sensitive to noise; it is precisely these people, however, who are not sensitive to argument, thought, poetry or art, in short, to any kind of intellectual impression: a fact to be assigned to the coarse quality and strong texture of their brain tissues.“ Was Schopenhauer correct in his assumptions about intelligence? The question remains: was Schopenhauer, a man of the 19th century, right about the two signs that someone is highly intelligent? When it comes to smart people being socially awkward, it’s difficult to say because research shows conflicting findings. Studies show that intelligent people are very good at reading social cues from other people, such as their tone of voice or body language. However, studies also show that highly intelligent individuals often focus on minutiae, which makes it difficult for them to act naturally in social situations. They are also very self-aware, which makes it harder for them to be comfortable in social situations. When it comes to smart people being bothered by sounds, that’s true. A study out of Northwestern University found that real-world creativity, a sign of intelligence, is associated with an inability to filter out irrelevant sensory information. Therefore, they can be easily overwhelmed by background noise. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post The two signs someone is incredibly intelligent, according to philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer appeared first on Upworthy.