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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Victoria Clayton in Inglewood, California

A storied Los Angeles high school band had fallen on hard times. Then along came Mr J

Marching band in green and gold robes coming down an aisle in a packed auditorium.
The Inglewood high school marching band, in Inglewood, California, in 2024. Photograph: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Joan Rosas says educators as early as kindergarten flat-out told him he wasn’t capable. “I got horrible grades,” he said. “I could barely read until eighth grade when I figured out how to teach myself.”

The Inglewood high school sophomore says he received little meaningful support for his learning challenges and, under the circumstances, grew to dislike school. Eventually, he started acting out, trying things like smoking.

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