(NAME-MCE) Top 10 Top Inspirational Movies for Educators

Tue Sep 1 09:14:09 CDT 2009

Another excellent choice because good teachers are  timeless:

"Good-bye, Mr. Chips" 

Robert Donat earned the 1939 Academy Award for Best Actor in the starring  
role. He won over Clark Gable in "Gone With the Wind."

Turner Classic Movies on cable just aired this a few months ago. Check  
their website for future showings. 

Bring tissues.

Gina Boltz
Director, Native Village Publications
Director, Youth Forum for International Council of 13 Indigenous  
Grandmothers
_http://www.nativevillage.org_ (http://www.nativevillage.org) 
Secretary, Link Center Foundation
_http://linkcenterfoundation.org_ (http://linkcenterfoundation.org) 

In a message dated 9/1/2009 10:05:02 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
judy.davison at wku.edu writes:

Finding Forrester immediately comes to mind.

Sent  from my iPhone

On Aug 31, 2009, at 7:42 AM, Bill Howe  <bill at billhowe.org> wrote:

>
>
> I happened to  watch part of the movie Freedom Writers this weekend.  
>  It's
> based on the true story of Erin Gruewell. It prompted me to  think  
> about
> other "teacher" movies. I googled and found  these. Any others to  
> add? I am
> preparing for a graduate  MCE course I am teaching and want to give  
> this out
> as  an optional assignment. I know people either love or hate some of   
> these
> movies. My assignment will be to critique a movie  responding to  
> whether the
> student feels it reflects  true life in the classroom, possible
> stereotypes of students and  teachers, good and bad teaching  
> strategies, etc.
> Any  thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Top 10 Top  Inspirational Movies for Educators
>
> By Melissa Kelly,  About.com
>
>
>
> Educators need to be reminded of the  importance of their jobs. Here  
> are ten
> movies that  inspire us and make us feel proud to be in the field of
> education  where we really do have an impact. Enjoy!
>
>
>
> 1.  Stand and Deliver
>
> The classic teacher movie whose message is  very important in today's
> society: never believe that students are  unable to learn. Instead of
> teaching to the lowest common denominator,  Edward James Olmos in a  
> true
> story as Jaime Escalante  sets his sights much higher, getting them  
> to pass
> the  AP Calculus exam. Excellent, enjoyable choice.
>
> 2. Dangerous  Minds
>
> Michelle Pfeiffer is excellent as real-life former  marine Louanne  
> Johnson.
> Teaching English in a tough  inner-city school, she reaches the  
> "unteachable"
>  through caring and understanding. Very true-to-life, Dangerous Minds   
> does
> not fall into sentimentality but instead teaches us of  the  
> importance of
> making our own choices and not  allowing circumstances to rule us.
>
> 3. Lean on  Me
>
> Morgan Freeman plays Joe Clark, the real-life bat-wielding  Principal  
> whose
> goal was to bring discipline and  learning to Eastside High School in  
> New
> York. While he  was not always the easiest on the teachers, it would  
> sure  be
> nice if more Principals stressed the importance of discipline  and  
> learning
> in their schools as he did. This film  shows the importance of having  
> strong
> leadership at the  top.
>
> 4. Mr. Holland's Opus
>
> This memorable  movie gives all teachers hope that they truly have an  
>  impact
> on their students. Richard Dreyfuss is wonderful as a musician/  
> composer who
> must take a teaching job to support his family.  In the end, Dreyfuss'
> character realizes that he has had as much if  not more of an impact  
> from his
> teaching as he would  have as a composer.
>
> 5. Dead Poet's Society
>
>  Robin Williams gives an awesome performance as an unconventional   
> English
> teacher in a very conventional (read conservative)  private school.  
> His love
> of poetry and his inspiring  teaching methods have a great impact on  
> his
> students.  The central message of the movie, to live life to the  
>  fullest
> everyday, is not lost. Further, Williams' poetry recitations  are
> awe-inspiring.
>
> 6. To Sir With Love
>
>  Produced in 1967, this film with Sidney Poitier as a novice teacher   
> has a
> lot to teach us today. Poitier takes a teaching  position in the  
> rough part
> of London in order to pay  his bills. Realizing that his students  
> need to be
>  taught important life lessons more than the curriculum he has been   
> handed to
> teach them, he throws out the lesson plans and  makes a real impact  
> on their
> personal  lives.
>
> 7. The Miracle Worker
>
> The ultimate  teaching miracle, Anne Bancroft is awesome as Annie  
>  Sullivan
> who uses 'tough love' to get through to the deaf and blind  Helen  
> Keller
> played by Patty Duke. Very few people can  watch the famous 'water'  
> scene
> without experiencing a  feeling of triumph and relief. Excellent  
> portrayal of
>  the importance of perseverence. Both Bancroft and Duke won an  
>  Academy Award
> for their performances.
>
> 8. Renaissance  Man
>
> Danny Devito's performance as a teacher of the  'Double-D's' is both  
> humorous
> and inspired. What  appears to be a light-hearted comedy truly has a  
> deeper
>  meaning. Devito's character proves that William Shakespeare still   
> has much
> to teach students. Surprisingly clean and somewhat  corny at times,
> Renaissance Man in the end teaches important life  lessons on  
> responsibility
> and  character.
>
> 9. Music of the Heart
>
> This film  shows the influence that one person's drive and vision can  
> have  on
> others. Meryl Streep plays real-life Roberta Guaspari who moves  to  
> Harlem as
> a single-mother and becomes a violin  teacher. Working through racial  
> and
> other barriers,  Roberta creates an acclaimed music program in an  
> area  where
> many would have said it was impossible. Definitely a  heart-warming  
> movie.
>
> 10. The Karate  Kid
>
> While not normally thought of as a 'classroom' movie, The  Karate Kid  
> has
> much to say to teachers: Sometimes we  have to have our students do  
> things
> that they will not  understand until much later; Basic skills are most
> important; Honor  and integrity are central to character; Students  
> need  to
> see us beam with excitement over their achievements. A fun,   
> nostalgic and
> inspiring movie to  relish.
>
>
>
>
>
> Bill Howe
>  Asian Pacific American Coalition of CT http://apaact.com/
> Personal  Website http://www.billhowe.org
> Multicultural Dimensions  http://www.multiculturaldimensions.org
> Travel Blog  http://billhowe.org/BillBlog/
> Multicultural Education Blog  http://billhowe.org/MCE/
>> Organizing a July 2010 Tour to China  & Hong Kong
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