This is Crossing the Line: a Dutch TV Show Based on an American Concept

She is crossing the line.This is not the first time I am writing something about a Dutch TV documentary called “Over de Streep” (English translation: “Crossing the Line”). It was in May 2010 that I saw a documentary about a secondary school in Amsterdam that participated in a so-called “Challenge Day”. Now, the makers have expanded on this documentary and made it into a TV show.As a phlegmatic Dutch person, I view this as a typical American concept. The gymnasium, where the Challenge Days are usually organized, is decorated with reminders to a rough neighbourhood – graffiti painted walls all around. The children coming into the gymnasium haven’t been told what the day is going to be about, creating some sort of shock effect as they are temporarily thrown off-kilter.This is a sign, if I ever saw one.Add this to the fact that some teachers and professionals are welcoming them with an honor guard while dancing and clapping their hands, and the world as they knew it seizes to exist. The idea behind the adults acting crazy would be that it lowers the threshold for the children to be open with them in the room. For this exact same reason, the kids are immediately invited to participate in a kind of dancing ritual, where everyone lets loose. Then the hand sign is introduced. This is supposed to show other people that you respect, or even love them (if you ask me, both words are thrown around too easily nowadays).The Challenge Day leaders, people selected by the Challenge Day organization for their life experiences, proceed to tell the pupils their life stories bringing even themselves to tears. Of course, the kids who are eager to show that they are part of a group, start showing the leaders the hand signal. Cue dramatic music.Tit for tat.In the spirit of “I show you mine, if you show me yours”, the children are put into small groups where they have to tell the other group members something starting with “If you really knew me, you’d know that…” Tears are flowing and hugs are given. Then it’s time for the most iconic part of the day. Students are asked to stand behind a line and walk across it if a statement uttered by a leader applies to them. One of the statements might be: “Please cross the line if you have ever had to listen to your parents or anyone you have to depend on argue or fight because of money.” Other statements concern substance abuse, physical and emotional abuse, and loss. The pupils remaining on the other side of the line show them their love and respect by giving them ‘the sign’. Upon return, the leaders encourage the kids to comfort each other.To conclude the day, some of the pupils have the courage to take up the mic and talk to the rest of the group about their Challenge Day experience.I can imagine that this day is an emotionally challenging one, and the kids must be exhausted afterwards. Without wanting to sound like an overly cynical person, I can’t help but wonder what the weeks following these Challenge Days are like. If I listen to the comments some of the kids are making on the TV show, they express the relief in finding out that some go through the same things as they are going through. They also talk about the newfound group-feeling. One girl even said: “Do you know what we do sometimes? For example, when a teacher gets angry and then he gets irritated, like ‘why didn’t you do your homework?’ and then everybody goes like this (shows the hand sign). And the teachers who weren’t [at the Challenge Day] don’t get it. They must be thinking ‘what is this group going on about? What are they doing?’”Please cross the line if you have ever felt excluded.Is it really such a good thing being this open with everyone in your year? Will things you say be used against you at a later time? Because let’s not forget that we are dealing with teenagers here, they can’t help being fickle.If Edward says it, it must be true.A Dutch office for “Day of Change” has been opened recently. Jessica Villerius, a documentary maker, introduced the concept in the Netherlands, after seeing it on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Apparently, quite some schools are taking interest. Schools are going to have to empty their pockets, because it doesn’t come cheap. The Day of Change foundation estimates the costs for a Day of Change at about €4,000. I suspect about halve of that amount will go into the leaders’ travel expenses. They are flown in from America since the “Challenge Day” concept is trademarked. Eco World Content From Across The Internet. Featured on EcoPressed Environmental Watchdog Report Calls Apple To Task For Violations