Get Schooled

By DW

November 4, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

Great scene in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” when Ray Walston shows up a Sean Penn’s door before the prom and says “No, you’re not going until we sit here and discuss your history exam as you pay me back for all the time you’ve wasted in my class.” (or something like that)

Or in “Teachers” after the fake fire drill when Judd Hirsch criticizes Nolte for hurrying back to class: “Why are you rushing? Half of those kids won’t be coming back.”
The response: “But half of them will. And I’m their TEACHER.”

By Leia

November 4, 2005 11:22 AM | Link to this

I enjoyed watching the movie “Cheaters” which was based on a true story of 11 students from a poor, Polish high school in Chicago who conspire with their teacher to cheat on an academic decathlon test by using the answers found by one of the team members.

The teacher and the students felt justified in cheating because for the prior 10 years, the “good”, preppy school had won the event, but, had all kids of advantages.

It raised many moral and ethical questions.

By jakesdad

November 4, 2005 11:33 AM | Link to this

good will hunting - 2 stars

Robin Williams did a great job but the premise was so far out of reality as to be laughable. I’ll buy that there are math savants out there that have never had a diffeq class but you still have to learn the notation.

By RF

November 4, 2005 11:35 AM | Link to this

Okay, this goes way back, but the movie “Teachers” was hilarious!! The stereotypes were allll there.

Also, the best, by far, since “To Sir With Love” is “Mr. Holland’s Opus”. I have to watch that and “Dangerous Minds” before school starts every year to get me pumped up for facing the kids again. Awesome stuff!

By Karen Armsby

November 4, 2005 11:58 AM | Link to this

Because it’s Friday and I feel silly, I like the Harry Potter movies! I wish I had gone to school at Hogwarts and lived in that castle, and learned spells and broom riding, and had my meals in that cool dining hall with all of the magical effects. : )

By high school teacher

November 4, 2005 12:03 PM | Link to this

I love Finding Forrester, Dead Poet’s Society, and Mr. Holland’s Opus.

There is another great movie that I saw only once, based on Pat Conroy’s novel The Water is Wide. I don’t know if that’s the name of the movie as well.

Of course, every high school teacher needs to see Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club!

By RF

November 4, 2005 12:08 PM | Link to this

high school—-you’re thinking about Conrack I think it’s called. That was an awesome book too.

The Breakfast Club is still an awesome movie after 20 years. You still see a lot of the same types of kids, don’t you?

By Mike

November 4, 2005 12:36 PM | Link to this

Pay it Forward was a great story with a worthy premise. Good fun for the whole family to see.

By Jim the teacher

November 4, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this

“Election” - Matthew Broderick as a high school social studies teacher. In one sequence we see him in a long succession of years (but always wearing a different short sleeve shirt with a different tie) drawing and explaining the same diagram of the three branches of government. In a voice over, his student Reese Witherspoon remarks that teaching must be a drag, having to do the same thing year after year after year.

Friends, that’s what it’s like sometimes.

By Claude

November 4, 2005 12:53 PM | Link to this

“Teachers” is outstanding! Coach Carter is cool too. I loved Dead Poets Society, one of my all time favorites! Breakfast Club is pretty close to the way it has always been and will always be(I think). Donald Sutherland in Animal House is funny too, but not a good example of a Highschool teacher! Kindergarten Cop, The govenors exchange with the kids in the beginning is priceless! Ben Stien calling role, Frye?..Frye?…Frye?…Frye?.

By Me

November 4, 2005 01:08 PM | Link to this

Not sure the last post made it? “The Tread That Runs so True” a true story about a male teacher that taught in a rural area back years ago when it was a one room school with all ages. An example of the book would be when he tried his hardest to find the male student that was spittin tobacco on the back of the new white painted school. After, much work he realized why it was so hard to find the student that was doing it. It was the best behaved little girl in the school.

By oldteacher

November 4, 2005 01:16 PM | Link to this

To Sir with Love is my all time favorite.

By Raqi

November 4, 2005 01:17 PM | Link to this

One of my favorites was Mona Lisa Smiles. It depicts the independence of women.

By Stephanie

November 4, 2005 01:21 PM | Link to this

For all early childhood professionals:

Kindergarten Cop!

By Zoe

November 4, 2005 01:22 PM | Link to this

The movie based on Pat Conroy’s book is Conrack. I thought it was a great adaptation. I also loved Boston Public, too bad it’s been cancelled. I come home with stories all the time and my husband thinks the school I teach is the inspiration for that show.

By B. Killebrew

November 4, 2005 01:53 PM | Link to this

Election

Cheaters (so unbelievably good!)

By Ernest

November 4, 2005 02:16 PM | Link to this

October Sky is a must see movie for those who like math and science. Without question, I also enjoy those that also have a sports theme such as Coach Carter. To Sir with Love brings back good memories of going to the drive in with my family.

By SWC

November 4, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this

Great topic!

Suggestions to add to the list: “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, “The Browning Version”, “Educating Rita”.

Music fans, note that “Finding Forrester” also has the most beautiful version of “Over the Rainbow” in the closing credits (part of a medley) worth the price of admission.

By SWC

November 4, 2005 02:26 PM | Link to this

Another one: “The Blackboard Jungle” (Sidney Poitier?). Okay, I’m dating myself!

By Jennifer

November 4, 2005 02:27 PM | Link to this

Music of the Heart Local School Politics/Music/Kids

By high school teacher

November 4, 2005 02:40 PM | Link to this

Forgot another 80’s classic…Summer School with Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley…

SWC, I absolutely love the medley at the close of Forrester!

By Swangirl

November 4, 2005 02:59 PM | Link to this

It got schmaltzy in parts but I liked parts of “Mr. Holland’s Opus” because you could tell at the beginning he really didn’t know what he was doing and was frustrated. A very real portrayal of a new teacher. I liked how Olympia Dukakis, as the principal, gently guided him and told him he was a compass for young minds. Pretty cool, that.

By RL

November 4, 2005 03:11 PM | Link to this

PAPER CHASE… Awesome

By HSTeach

November 4, 2005 03:33 PM | Link to this

“Teachers” by far nails most teachers exactly!!!!!

By Patti Ghezzi

November 4, 2005 03:58 PM | Link to this

Okay, okay, I’m ordering “Teachers” from Netflix right now!

By Romona

November 4, 2005 04:47 PM | Link to this

My all-time favorite teacher movie is “Sister Act 2” starring Whoopi Goldberg. Another favorite is “Mr. Holland’s Opus” starring Richard Dreyfuss. And the Julia Roberts movie “Mona Lisa Smile” is great too. (If you couldn’t tell by the first 2 movies I mentioned, I’m a music teacher!) :)

By song id

November 7, 2005 09:57 AM | Link to this

I think the song you’re talking about is a medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

By Deb

November 7, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget “A Beautiful Mind” with Russell Crowe—great movie!

By BW

November 7, 2005 01:29 PM | Link to this

I can’t remember the name of the movie, but Kevin Kline is a professor at a private boys school. He has to deal with a politicians son that cheats. Later in life he is called to a reunion and competition where the same student as an adult again cheats. The second time around he realized what is happening and asks a question that he knows the student is not prepared for. This is a great movie.

By HS Science

November 7, 2005 04:15 PM | Link to this

The best movie for me is “Lean On Me.” when expectations are high you can reach your goals.

For television it had to be Boston Public. Many times I saw myself in the same situations. Many outside of education would say that the plots were too thick for a high school, but the peer presure, drugs, gang activity and many others were a good glimpse of the real problems we face. I use to love hearing the kids come in and talk about how rediculus the show was and after I would mention just one name they knew the show had hit the point.