Share something about the film you watched that you hope to discuss in class. Reply to the comments that name your film so that all of the comments for each film are grouped together. Try to include something from what we have discussed so far in this course (e.g, purposes of school, individualism, opportunity, class and race, teacher and/or student agency, the limits of the art form, etc.).
I want to talk about the purpose of school and the demonstrations of individualism within the movie "Freedom Writers" as well as class and race within this movie as well.
ReplyDeleteUpon watching, "The Freedom Writers" there are a lot of topics that I would hope to discuss in class. The most important being the impact of education. Erin Gruwell's teaching approach changed the lives of her students, this is an important topic to discuss because positive teaching experiences can lead to lifelong impacts, not just academic success but also personal growth and social development. The students' backgrounds also heavily shape their identities influencing their perspectives, behaviors, and interactions, which could be another topic to discuss. Individualism was also a central idea in this film. Through their daily journaling, each student shared their unique experiences that helped assert their identities and break free from their societal stereotypes. The film stresses the value of self-expression and empowerment, with individuals that encourage one another to accept their uniqueness despite peer pressure.
DeleteI watched "The Freedom Writers," and I want to discuss how the relationships between Erin Gruwell and the students changed throughout the movie. This movie also shows the differences in race and class, so I'd like to discuss that more. It also heavily relies on stereotypes, so that's something to discuss. As much as I love this movie, it was hard to see the stereotypes they leaned on. It does add depth to the movie, but now it would not result in good reviews. That being said, the film promotes individualism and shows agency changes from students to teachers.
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ReplyDeleteI would like to discuss in class the race and class of the students and the teacher in the film “Stand and Deliver.” Regarding the illustration, the film depicts low-income Chicano families and their struggles regarding their socioeconomic status, education, and support from family and friends. Overall, the film itself was really good and it showcased the benefits of students being given an environment in which they can live up to their fullest potential.
I really enjoyed "Stand and Deliver." I would like to talk about the race and class aspect of the movie. There is also opportunity in the film also. The film shows how a minority is judged based off of the stereotypes.
DeleteI watched the film "Dangerous Minds." This film had a lot of examples of things we discussed in class including class and race, as well as agency and purposes of schooling. One thing that stuck out to me is that the guardian of two of the students in Miss Johnson's class pulled them out of her class because she was teaching them poetry and it was a waste of time. The guardian said the boys had bills to pay, and shouldn't be wasting their time analyzing poems. Another big topic in the movie was agency. Miss Johnson and the students have several discussions on the subject of choices. One particularly gifted student is pregnant, and has the choice to remain in school or go to a facility for teen mothers. The school makes it seem like she doesn't have the choice and that she MUST go to Clearview, but Miss Johnson tells her she can choose to stay in high school if she wants to.
ReplyDeleteI watched Dangerous Minds and want to talk about the teacher/student agency and the class and race aspect in the movie. Overall, I liked the movie and think the message was positive but I don't like a few of the scenes and stereotypes presented in the movie.
DeleteI watched "Dangerous Minds" and the topics that I would like to discuss are the teacher/student relationship and agency in relation to what we have discussed in class previously. The movie in my opinion had a good message but I think that a lot of stereotypes were pushed, but I also think that the time that the movie was created plays a role in that as well as the fact that the director and creators were white people.
DeleteI watched Dangerous Minds, and I want to talk about the about the agency and class and race in this movie. I liked the movie, but I think some of what the teacher was doing like taking the whole class to a theme park or to a fancy dinner was unrealistic and that this wouldn't happen in real life. What bothered me the most is the principle sending Emilo out of his office because he didn't knock and that lead Emilo to die. Emilo death would of most likely been avoid if the principle just let him come in and talk because he just wanted to feel and be safe and the teacher finally got him to want to feel safe without killing and the principle is one of the reasons he died. I also was bother by the fact that the two boys were taken out of school by their mother because she thought learning poetry wasn't going to help them and that they had bills to pay, and responsibility and school basically wasn't one. I also didn't like how the school was trying to make it seem like the pregnant girl couldn't stay in the school when she could have the whole time. I do think a lot of stereotypes were pushed but overall, I did like the movie and how much the teacher cared for her students and how she changed their lives and made it worth the effort.
DeleteI watched the movie "Lean on Me" (1989) and can I just say I really enjoyed this movie! I would like to talk about the student-teacher agency in this movie because I believe that was the most common theme in this film. Can't wait to discuss.
ReplyDeleteI watched "Lean on Me" (1989). I thoroughly enjoyed viewing it and found it very interesting. The film exhibits numerous recurring themes that correspond with our class discussions, such as agency, class and race, and the purposes of education.
DeleteI agree that student-teacher agency plays a key role in the film, especially in how Joe Clark's leadership impacts both groups. It would be interesting to discuss how his tough, authoritarian style affects individualism and whether it limits student agency in favor of a broader focus on discipline and school improvement. We could also connect this to our class discussions on the purpose of schools—whether they should prioritize academic achievement or also focus on addressing the societal challenges students face. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
DeleteI really enjoyed the film, "Lean on Me" which shows that school is not only a place for academic learning but also for building discipline, respect, and a sense of community. and Joe Clark's strict methods challenge the notion that education is solely about passing exams. schools also have to prepare students for life, addressing issues like drug use and violence that may hinder their ability to learn. The movie also portrays Eastside High as a place of rampant crime and drug abuse, ignoring broader structural issues like poverty and systemic racism. the film was a 10/10
DeleteAfter watching "Lean on Me," I can say that it was a great film. Multiple themes that we have discussed in class were demonstrated throughout the film, two of which I noticed the most included: agency and purpose of education.
DeleteI watched “Lean on Me” as well and I saw different forms of agency within the movie. How the school board, teaching staff, parents, and students all interact with each other in the movie shows who holds power at a certain scene or not.
DeleteI watched the movie "Lean on Me" starring Morgan Freeman, playing the role of Joe Clark. This movie did an excellent job of demonstrating the school systems that may give up on their students quickly. Joe Clark was viewed as a "hero", someone that the students can talk to, and lean on. It also showed how the school kind of came into unison when he arrived. I feel like there was a major shift in schools culture, before and after Mr Clark came into the school. It was an excellent film touching on multiple themes we spoke about in class.
Deleteanonymous - joey b
DeleteThe movie I watched was “To Sir, With Love” (1967) and I would like to discuss how the film dealt with agency held by students and teachers as well as how individualism is both strengthened and weakened through schooling. Mr. Thackeray weakens the students sense of individuality by bringing stricter rules to the classroom as a way to prepare them for the outside world but this preparation ends up helping many of his student realize who they want to become after school ends which strengthens their sense of self. I was surprised that for a movie made in the 1960s about a black teacher working in a majority white school in England, race and class (while still present) weren’t the major themes for the movie.
ReplyDeleteI watched “To Sir, With Love” and i hope to talk in class about how Thackeray dealt with the curriculum, or lack thereof, and his struggle for authority with the children. The movie definitely displayed difference in class, not by comparing class, but by majorly displaying the lower class and their struggles.
DeleteI would like to discuss the intersectionality of race, class, and gender seen in the movie. It was brought up and implied frequently by the characters of the film. I would also like to discuss how Mr.Thackeray approached his first time teaching as a sort of last resort opportunity referring to his background in engineering.
Delete^^ Maxine Yumul
DeleteI want to discuss how Lean on Me (1989) portrays Eastside High as a reflection of societal inequalities related to race and class, showing how systemic neglect impacts educational opportunities for marginalized communities. Joe Clark’s authoritarian leadership raises questions about balancing student agency with collective improvement, connecting to our discussions on whether schools should focus solely on academics or also address the social and economic realities of students' lives.
ReplyDeleteI’d like to discuss how “Freedom Writers” highlights teacher agency, showcasing how one dedicated educator can make a profound impact on her students' lives, particularly in bridging gaps created by race and class disparities.
ReplyDeleteAliyah Ibrahim: The film was really interesting and a good watch because it went over some things in class like agency because when Mr.Clark came into the school and it seemed like he had full agency over the school. There was a lot of discipline passed upon the students and stereotypes when he gathered the so called hoodlums and took them out of school. Although it was a good watch it seemed very dramatic.
ReplyDeleteFrancis Eshun-Baidoo
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of Stand and Deliver that I hope we discuss in class is the portrayal of teacher and student agency within a system that seems to work against them. Mr. Escalante, the teacher, represents someone who refuses to accept the limitations placed on his students by society, class, and race. He empowers them to rise above these barriers through hard work and persistence. This resonates with our class discussions on the purpose of education as a tool for opportunity, but it also highlights the stark realities of educational inequality.
While the film shows Mr. Escalante’s influence in helping his students succeed in AP calculus, it raises important questions about how much change one teacher can truly affect within a larger, broken system. The film also touches on the limits of individualism — while Mr. Escalante’s success is inspiring, it also points to the systemic issues that prevent other teachers or students from achieving the same. Should the responsibility for success fall solely on the teacher’s shoulders, or is there a broader institutional failure at play? I’d like to explore how the film portrays this tension between individual agency and systemic barriers.
Freedom Writers highlights how education can play a significant role in tackling issues like race, class, and opportunity. The movie centers on a teacher who uses creative methods to connect with her students, many of whom face tough challenges in their lives. By showing compassion and using innovative teaching approaches, she helps her students see their potential and rise above the obstacles they face. This connects to what we’ve explored in class about how schools can offer more than just academic knowledge—they can also help students grow personally and open doors for their future.
ReplyDeleteThe movie also emphasizes the importance of student agency, or the ability for students to take control of their own lives. Initially, the students feel trapped by their circumstances, but as they begin to write and share their stories, they gain a sense of empowerment. This links to what we've been discussing about how education can help students express themselves and discover their voice.
However, Freedom Writers also brings up the challenge of how accurately films can portray deeper societal issues like inequality. While the movie is inspiring, it tends to simplify complex problems such as poverty and discrimination. This reminds us that, although movies can spark valuable discussions, they often don’t fully capture the complexity of these issues.
Ultimately, Freedom Writers illustrates the transformative power of education while also showing the limitations of films in telling complex social stories.
I watched the movie “Dangerous Minds”, and I think it did a great job of discussing the cultural differences between the teacher and her students. The students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds, which influences their perspectives and behaviors toward education. LouAnne does her best to try and understand her students’ even though she faces resistance. She incorporates elements of their culture into her lessons that resonate with them, such as poetry and music. This approach helps her to connect with her students and gain their respect and trust. Overall, I believe the film effectively highlights the impact of cultural differences in a student's life outside of school that can affect their performance in the classroom.
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