In Florida, a judge's thoughtful approach is throwing a creative curve ball to troubled youth: When minors end up in her courtroom and have to pay back society with community service, Judge Merrilee Ehrlich makes kids do their time by writing poetry. "I don't want them doing mindless things, picking up litter in a park or cleaning cop cars. I wanted community service work related to their charges that would teach them how to be creative, how to provoke thought," says Judge Ehrlich.
The good judge reiterates her credo with placards that read:
"In life there are no make-up exams. Choose carefully."
And
"The more you learn today, the more you'll earn tomorrow."
She also has a library that the kids have access to.
Even though 14-year-old Bradley Pierre wasn't familiar with poetry, he liked his sentence:
"I never read poems. I never understood poems. This is new for me. It's kind of something that I like ... it's a lesson you learn from, something positive."
I have to say that I heart Judge Ehrlich. Time and time again, these types of stories show that the best solutions and problem solving techniques often involve creativity and compassion. It is so easy to throw the book at these children, but instead, forcing these kids to express themselves in a positive way gives these kids another lens on their capabilities and hopefully another lens on life.
As for Judge Ehrlich, while having kids read poetry was great, the show isn't over: Before taking a celebratory bow, she, too, takes center stage, donning a black hoodie and a rude swagger. Judge Ehrlich then closes out the display by actually rapping about the need to make good choices.
Watch out, Lil' Wayne!
Watch her great work here: