What is completely unrealistic about this movie:
1) The way she dresses. No urban public school teacher would wear heels and suits and pearls.
2) How completely clueless she is about the kids and the job on the first day of school.
3) On the first day of school, it looks as if she's never been inside her classroom.
4) Her unwavering energy and optimism. Never once in the whole movie does she feel defeated or depressed or wanting to throw in the towel.
5)Taking on two other jobs at night and on the weekends. That is completely impossible. This job sucks the life out of you!
6) It doesn't show her other 3 classes, with her other 120 students.
The following are sucky, but could possibly be true. Shows how much times have changed in 10 years.
1) Chalk boards, and not a single computer in the classroom.
2) $27,000 seems too low, even in 1997.
3) She doesn't stand at the door greeting the students on the first day of school, and she calls off their names in a roll call at the beginning of class.
4) The department head who didn't want her to use the books in the storage room.
How this movie positively influenced me. It reminded me that to succeed in the classroom, urban public school teachers must:
1) Get to know the students. Playing a get-to-know-you game, like the Line. Reading their journals. Hanging out in their neighborhoods.
2) Show they care by making personal sacrifices, like buying them stuff, including food and treats and prizes and rewards.
3) Spend time with them outside of class. After school, at lunch, weekends. FIELD TRIPS!!!!!
4) Tailor the curriculum to their lives. Screw the tests!!!!
I knew all these things. But it's always good to be reminded.
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