Three movies have greatly inspired me in my passion and vision for teaching – one as I was deciding about my profession, another in my first decade of teaching, and the third after two decades in the biz. Admittedly, each contains problematic scenes and themes, so I hesitated to write this blog. But, isn’t that life? Most everything and everyone is a mix of good and bad, and even while we learn from the bad, we can also celebrate the good.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
I didn’t see Dead Poets Society in the theaters; instead, I watched it almost a decade later on VHS. The story is set in 1959 at Welton Academy, an elite all-male boarding school for teenagers. A new English teacher, John Keating played by Robin Williams, first shocks and then endears himself to his students with his unorthodox teaching methods and calls for individualism. He expects them to tear pages out of their textbook as a symbol of trusting their own interpretations and stand on his desk as a symbol of embracing a new perspective and boldness. While the movie is wildly inspiring for future English teachers, it’s also heartbreaking. By today’s standards Dead Poets needs a trigger warning for death by suicide, for not only does a beloved character choose to end his life, but its star actor did as well in 2014.
Dead Poets inspired me to be a high school English teacher who puts the art of reading and writing before the science, who embraces the gray areas, who values engagement over compliance, who thrives when connecting with students, and who seeks innovative approaches to teaching. These qualities I found in Mr. Keating ran counter to the norms at Welton, so the movie also taught me about bravery, defeat, heartbreak, and ultimately, perseverance.
Freedom Writers (2007)
In Freedom Writers, Hilary Swank plays Erin Gruwell, a teacher in Long Beach, California, during the ‘90s. The movie is based on Ms. Gruwell and her high school students’ real stories, which they published in a 1999 book called The Freedom Writers Diary. Although Gruwell initially went to school to become a lawyer, the 1992 LA Riots inspired her to make a difference for youth in the classroom rather than the courtroom. In her English class, Gruwell emphasized that stories help us understand others and ourselves better and that every student has their own stories to share. On the bad side, the movie is capable of inspiring white saviorism.
The enduring messages of Freedom Writers for me hinge on the power of human connection and community in a classroom. The movie also contributed to my ultimate reasons for teaching: to give people more options and opportunities for their lives.
Stand and Deliver (1988)
Like Freedom Writers, Stand and Deliver is based on a true story out of the Los Angeles area. In the early 1980s Jamie Escalante made tremendous strides in math education with his Mexican American students as he prepared them for the AP Calculus exam and achieved impressive results. Yes, this is a really good movie about math class! The students, including Angel Guzman played by Lou Diamond Phillips, have trouble believing in themselves, but their teacher never gives up and goes the extra mile to see them succeed. While Freedom Writers is a remarkable depiction of the ‘90s, Stand and Deliver transports me right back to life in the ‘80s. Unfortunately, in a few scenes Mr. Escalante employs harsh sarcasm and insults to motivate his students, which was more common in the ‘80s than now but still makes me cringe.
Stand and Deliver reminds me to make sure my students know how much I believe in them. It’s also a powerful reminder that while teaching is hard work, it’s worth it. Teachers play a role in making our world a better place, which brings incredible meaning to Escalante’s life and mine as well.
