Annabel Paul, a student of Lauren Porosoff at Ethical Culture Fieldston Middle School in New York City, read and responded to the YES! Acosta shares how his school district’s “rehumanized” Mexican American Studies Program helped empower students by connecting their learning to their history and who they are. Writing Prompt: Describe a teacher or a classroom experience that helped make learning joyful and meaningful for you. Conversely, what message do you have for teachers and administrators who make learning tedious, even painful? We never read any stories, articles, or books about transgender people, nor do we learn about them in any classes.