““Students from different faith backgrounds come together for an epic World Religions class in a public Illinois high school,” notes a description of All of the Above. “Through the work of a challenging yet compassionate teacher, the community as a whole is asked to confront preconceived notions of faith and belonging — religious literacy, as he terms it.” As a teenager, director Allison Walsh took that class at Mount Prospect High School in a suburb of Chicago. Walsh and producer/co-writer Lily Qi join Ridley for a conversation recorded at Nō Studios in Milwaukee – site of Ridley’s production company, which co-produces Doc Talk with Deadline. The director shares how she got permission to shoot at Mount Prospect High and how she drew inspiration from America to Me, a documentary series directed by Steve James that was filmed in nearby Oak Park River Forest High School.”

“If you were to endorse religious beliefs or teach students how to practice a particular religion in a public high school in America, that would run afoul of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. But, at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, a world religions class is doing something different: teaching students about the history and impact of religions around the world. And that, is kosher.”

““All of the Above” demonstrates the significance of embracing curiosity while creating space for multiple answers. Often, in the silence of our questions does the answer reveal itself, creating within us the spark to explore beyond our established mental perimeters. As Walsh was clearly inspired, so, hopefully, will others achieve a similar state of encouragement to move beyond the walls of pre-established safety and step out into the world.”