Ira Glass

And from there to all the advantages you get from that kind of education, including a higher income, maybe a better job, all sorts of stuff. Kind of a big scary chasm opening up in the earth behind that innocent little math problem. For five years, Milo Kramer tutored kids who wanted to leap over that chasm and into those eight elite high schools. It first made Milo feel good.

And from there to all the advantages you get from that kind of education, including a higher income, maybe a better job, all sorts of stuff. Kind of a big scary chasm opening up in the earth behind that innocent little math problem. For five years, Milo Kramer tutored kids who wanted to leap over that chasm and into those eight elite high schools. It first made Milo feel good.

This recording is from a one-person show that Milo did this fall about the kids they tutored. I worry a little that it's going to be hard to get across over the radio what's so special about this show. Most of it is songs, songs about the kids that Milo tutored. These very funny and heartbreaking portraits of these middle school and high school kids and Milo's relationship to them.

This recording is from a one-person show that Milo did this fall about the kids they tutored. I worry a little that it's going to be hard to get across over the radio what's so special about this show. Most of it is songs, songs about the kids that Milo tutored. These very funny and heartbreaking portraits of these middle school and high school kids and Milo's relationship to them.

Like, for example, the boy who takes a lot of pleasure denouncing God and the Democrats.

Like, for example, the boy who takes a lot of pleasure denouncing God and the Democrats.

Milo is not a great singer. They would tell you that themselves. Or a skilled musician. But they've written songs in secret since they were the age that these kids are, that they're writing about. And there's just something in the intentional roughness and sincerity of what they're doing. It kind of matches the rawness of these kids and their feelings.

Milo is not a great singer. They would tell you that themselves. Or a skilled musician. But they've written songs in secret since they were the age that these kids are, that they're writing about. And there's just something in the intentional roughness and sincerity of what they're doing. It kind of matches the rawness of these kids and their feelings.

And of Milo's reactions to them, when a girl from Queens named Dana, who's better at math than Milo, and probably should be a scientist or engineer someday, tells Milo that if she does end up in college, she wants to study theater. Milo, who's broke and struggling and wanting to do theater, sings...

And of Milo's reactions to them, when a girl from Queens named Dana, who's better at math than Milo, and probably should be a scientist or engineer someday, tells Milo that if she does end up in college, she wants to study theater. Milo, who's broke and struggling and wanting to do theater, sings...

Lots of the songs in the show are about the kids' anxieties, about school and this test and all the pressure they feel from their parents. And they're about Milo trying to figure out not just how to teach them, but what they possibly could say to comfort them. Faith, for example, is a terrible reader.

Lots of the songs in the show are about the kids' anxieties, about school and this test and all the pressure they feel from their parents. And they're about Milo trying to figure out not just how to teach them, but what they possibly could say to comfort them. Faith, for example, is a terrible reader.

Our radio show today is about questions. And to close out the show, I'm just going to play you one more thing. This is one full song from Milo's show about a question that a student faced. It's an essay question.

Our radio show today is about questions. And to close out the show, I'm just going to play you one more thing. This is one full song from Milo's show about a question that a student faced. It's an essay question.

Milo Kramer in the one-person show School Pictures, recorded at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. School Pictures is running at Theatre Latte Da in Minneapolis from February 5th to March 2nd. It's going to come back to New York in the fall. If you want to hear more songs from the show or book the show for your town, go to milokramer.com. That's Kramer with a C, milokramer.com.

Milo Kramer in the one-person show School Pictures, recorded at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. School Pictures is running at Theatre Latte Da in Minneapolis from February 5th to March 2nd. It's going to come back to New York in the fall. If you want to hear more songs from the show or book the show for your town, go to milokramer.com. That's Kramer with a C, milokramer.com.

Our program was produced today by Zoe Chase. The people who put together today's show include Jendayi Banz, Sean Cole, Michael Kamate, Bethel Hopti, Khanna Jaffee-Walk, Catherine Raimondo, Stone Nelson, Safia Riddle, Lily Sullivan, Frances Swanson, Chris Rosenthaler, Marisa Robertson-Textra, Matt Tierney, Nancy Updike, Julie Whitaker, and Diane Wu. Our managing editor is Sara Abdurrahman.

Our program was produced today by Zoe Chase. The people who put together today's show include Jendayi Banz, Sean Cole, Michael Kamate, Bethel Hopti, Khanna Jaffee-Walk, Catherine Raimondo, Stone Nelson, Safia Riddle, Lily Sullivan, Frances Swanson, Chris Rosenthaler, Marisa Robertson-Textra, Matt Tierney, Nancy Updike, Julie Whitaker, and Diane Wu. Our managing editor is Sara Abdurrahman.

Our senior editor is David Kestenbaum. Our executive editor is Emmanuel Berry. Help on today's rerun from Henry Larson and Angela Geropassi. Original music for The Comedian's Story by Ryan Rumery, who also helped mix the show. Special thanks today to Lauren Kessler. Her book is Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's.

Our senior editor is David Kestenbaum. Our executive editor is Emmanuel Berry. Help on today's rerun from Henry Larson and Angela Geropassi. Original music for The Comedian's Story by Ryan Rumery, who also helped mix the show. Special thanks today to Lauren Kessler. Her book is Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's.