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Friday, December 26, 2008
Schools on film
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is the time when all the “best movies of the year” lists come out. I’ve read a few that give props to a film called The Class.
This French movie, based on a book written by a teacher, follows a middle school class for one year. The movie stars the teacher who wrote the book and some students. Several reviewers described it as one of the best classroom movies ever made.
Now there are a lot of classroom moves out there. Many feature the teacher as a savior who will rescue failing students and schools.
These movies pull the heart strings but they don’t really capture the challenges teachers and students face.
I find documentaries do a better job. These are my top three:
Spellbound - Kids competing to win the National Spelling Bee.
Paper Clips - Students learn about the Holocaust.
Hoop Dreams - Two high school basketball players dream of becoming superstars.
Are there any movies that you think capture what schools are really like? What are your favorites?
