This week, and specifically today, we give thanks for our teachers. As a fellow teacher, I don't use this week as an opportunity to gloat or look for people to appreciate me (I'm not that vain!). Instead, I think about the teachers that have shaped my own life. The reason that I went into my profession is because of the teachers who took personal time out of their own lives to help me and mold me into the person that types away for you every day.
That being said, this is an entertainment blog and so of course I am going to offer you a list of movies that you can watch. Some of these films will make you laugh, while others will make you cry. America loves to make films all about education and teaching. I think it is a way for Hollywood to reflect on their own upbringings or maybe it just sells a lot of tickets. Either way, they are all great films that ring true the ideals behind education.
1. School of Rock
You may think I am crazy right now about what I just said: the ideals behind education ringing true. However, I still think that statement applies for this film. A hilarious and entertaining time brought to you by Jack Black who lies about his identity (pretending to be his roommate) so that he can make a lot of mad money substituting. But of course, there is a catch and he ends up finding his passion for teaching music. I love everything about this movie, but my favorite thing is how quotable it is:"You're tacky and I hate you."
2. Mona Lisa Smile
Julia Roberts plays a tough professor who comes to teach at Wellesley during the 1950's. The school is all girls who are only going to school to find their husband so that they can get married. Roberts teaches an art class and challenges the young woman to face their societal roles and quite possibly challenge them. It's a powerful film filled with history and young talent.
3. Music of the Heart
This movie is beautiful, poignant and true to life. It stars the uber talented Meryl Streep as a violin teacher who takes a job teaching in Harlem. The stakes are up against her, but she doesn't back down. The cast is brilliantly put together with Gloria Estefan, Angela Bassett and Aidan Quinn. It's one of my favorite movies because it seriously warms the heart.
4. Dead Poet's Society
Seriously, these are all such great movies! Another goodie here starring the ever-talented Robin Williams as a teacher at all an boys school. He tries to not only impart wisdom onto his students but also to teach them to seize the day and make the most out of their young lives. It's a truly heartbreaking and inspiring movie that offers a unique look at teenage boys and how education and their home lives shape the men that they become.
5. Stand and Deliver
This movie is based on the story of Jaime Escalante, a math teacher who inspired his students to overcome and pass calculus. The story follows teenagers from a very poor Hispanic area of California. It's not only a great film but it is a great story. I don't want to give away too much about this one, but you should really take the time to watch it.
6. Mad Hot Ballroom
A documentary following New York City schools as their students trained and competed in a city wide ballroom dance competition. The elegance of this film as it showed real student interacting with a form of dance that was foreign and complicated to them is breathtaking. This film is literally a must-see teacher appreciation week or not!
7. The Great Debaters
Denzel Washington leads this cast, based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson. Tolson was a professor at Wiley College in Texas in 1935, when he not only started the first debate team, but led them to the national championships at Harvard University. The film is incredibly well put together and the message is so enthralling: try and at everything and if you don't succeed try, try again.
8. Freedom Writers
Another great teaching film, and coincidentally the only time I have liked Hilary Swank in a role. She plays a writing teacher who does more than just teach her students. She gives them life tools, teaches them self-discipline and inspires them to keep trying and furthering themselves even after high school. Of course the road is not easily paved for her, and to be honest, it most of the time is not for teachers. The film is true to life and touching.
9. Won't Back Down
The newest release to be added to the list, the film hit theaters just last fall. I saw a pre-showing and was blown away by two things. First the acting is downright amazing with Viola Davis giving another performance of a lifetime. Maggie Gyllenhaal is right there alongside of Davis offering an equally stunning performance. The second thing that blew me away was the realness to this film. There are so many issues in education today, most of which people do not want to talk about. This was a raw and real look at the dangers, issues and problems facing our nation's schools. It was beautifully put together and beautifully acted out.
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