Teacher Discussion Forums

Have just seen The Chorus/Les Choristes on BBC4. What other decent movies are there that help show how teachers might better relate to, build rapport with and inspire students (especially unmotivated and/or misbehaving ones)?

Merry Christmas everyone, by the way!

You mean things like Dead Poets Society, and that one about history with Kevin Kline? The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie?

In Asia, I think an idea that a teacher should be important and inspiring like that is often a bit of a morale sapper.

In Asia, I think an idea that a teacher should be important and inspiring like that is often a bit of a morale sapper.

It might be a bit sappy, but shouldn't be too sapping, for the foreign teachers working there.

The main point though is that teachers shouldn't be(come) too self-important, especially when they aren't actually offering anything that's that inspiring.

How about "Freedom Writers" or "My Posse Don't Do Homework" _ I think it was called "Dangerous Minds" as a movie. "The Miracle Worker" is my all time favourite. They are showing "To Sir _with Love" on TV this week.

Here is a website with the top ten:
http://712educators.about.com/od/burnou ... movies.htm

Of the 712 top ten, I've only seen Mr.Holland's Opus, Dead Poets Society, Renaissance Man, and The Karate Kid; have yet to watch Lean on Me but have it on DVD somewhere.* Oh, and I did eventually manage to kill some time one evening with The Emperor's Club, woody (Kevin Kline is always pretty watchable).

I guess if they made a film like The Karate Kid nowadays it would be called the UFC Kid, and Daniel would choke guys out with guillotines and sleepers rather than dusting noses with the Crane kick. Mr Miyagi would be replaced with someone like Cung Le.

*As for the rest of the inner-city/hood sub-genre, I'll probably make do with the Family Guy's 'Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High' episode in the meantime.

I can't believe noone's mentioned Stand and Deliver, starring math teacher Jaime Escalante, who successfully taught high-level calculus to minority Hispanic high schoolers. There is a scene showing him teaching English night class to Hispanic adults at the school.

Jaime Escalante

My other favorite teaching movie is Lean on Me, which Fluffyhamster mentioned, about a principal who took over an underperforming school of mostly minority black students in New Jersey, most of whom couldn't read, and successfully turned it around within one year.

Joe Louis Clark

Death threats, hate mail and controversy over punishment camps (if you read the links). The road of the super teacher is not for me.

Actually (Jotham), Stand and Deliver occupies the "number one" spot on the 712educators link that Sally posted.

I decided to get the Pathe 'World Cinema Classics : Jean De Florette / Talk To Her / Story Of The Weeping Camel / Kagemusha / The Chorus (5 Disc Box Set)' from Amazon (what a bargain for just under £10!). On second viewing, the plotting of 'The Chorus' seemed a little erratic (like the Time Out review observes), but still a good film. Next up and into my DVD player was The Story of the Weeping Camel. I won't spoil it by telling you exactly what happens (and I suggest you avoid reading at least the Time Out review beforehand), other than to say that this is an "uplifting" (enjoyably calming and not too romanticized or sentimental) glimpse of life in nomadic Mongolia.

Finally got around to watching Lean on Me. A bit dated, but worth it just for the bit where Morgan Freeman as the new headmaster chews out the whole failing staff on his first day back at his old school.

If you are just interested in Mongolia, there is a documentary that is not in the teaching line, called "Genghis Blues" that is worth an hour and a bit. If you are just wanting movies, my favourites are "My Dinner with Andre" and "Babette's Feast".

There's a great new blogger dissecting various movies for grammar, Claudio Azevedo from Brazil + handouts.

http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com/

Hope useful,
Karenne