I liked this movie. I'm not normally one for propaganda flicks but I thought this had a lot of interesting ideas.
First of all, before I even start, I would like to point out that I am, as a whole, yet to be a fan of the Charter School System.
I grew up in Boulder Colorado and we had a school, September School, that was the equivalent. It was ok. The principal openly smoked pot and the kids were allowed to be artistic. Truthfully, either because they were just smart, my opinion, or because of the school, they did pretty well. They went off to Mountain schools and...well....I'm not sure. They were dramatic. They were them.
So, I have to take issue with some of the opening scenes in this movie. There is is this HUGE hypocritical aspect to this move. I went to school in LA and saw what could be seen. Guggenheim drives his kids through Los Angeles, up to a private school. No Joke, He made an entire moire directed at people, just like him, trying to convey that they should feel bad about being so lazy about public schools. Wait...What? He showed himself driving his kids to a private school and then berated people, just like him, for giving up on public schools. Wow.
In any case, what I though was most interesting was his coverage of Charter Schools. I loved the idea of that the teachers could overcome the system and that the 'differen't' could address a child's needs. I thought, at times, that it was overly political, and highlighted the benefits of Charter and Alternative schools. As you may see in my pedagogy project, not all Charter schools are equal. Not all are honest.
With regard to the aspects of Tenure. I can't imagine. My mother, who mastered at the Sorbonne, and teaches at both a high school and college, is not a fan, at all, of tenure. I think most good teachers fall somewhere in the middle. One the one hand doing a good job should allow you to keep your job and your actions and work would, ideally, speak for itself. So I agree with him here. On the other hand, however, the direction that school seems to be going further in, decentralized control, means that arbitrary decisions could put teachers, even great teachers, at risk. The whims of administrations, as well, come in to play, and with so many factors floating around... so, it isn't a simple question. I think the biggest benefit on NOT having tenure in place, is that is doesn't allow a teacher to just float and do a bad job. Just like any other job, When someone is unable, unwilling, or not suitable to do the work, especially with students, they should be terminated.
Was it Eipic?
I suppose it was because from everything I saw, agreed, and disagreed with, it made me want to be a better teacher. I have reservations about Charter schools, as I mentioned. I have a video of one of the 'rooms' up of a school (in my dig. pedagogy section) and while I appreciate their ability to target certain types of students, helping them in special ways, the possibility of them just operating as businesses, for some people's profit, seems high.
Also, as was shown (maybe heavily handidly) in the documentary. Because many Charters are so popular they have a high number of students clamoring to get in. As we followed the stories of the individual in the movie, it was hard to watch that their hard work hopes and dreams, and there belief that the Charters were their ticket to success, rested upon their number being called, their ball from the roller being pulled, or some other lottery. I admire the dedication of the teachers but just wish we could expand that to demonstrating that will public teachers as well.
All in all, though? I was both moved and highly motivated by the movie. I can't WAIT to start!
First of all, before I even start, I would like to point out that I am, as a whole, yet to be a fan of the Charter School System.
I grew up in Boulder Colorado and we had a school, September School, that was the equivalent. It was ok. The principal openly smoked pot and the kids were allowed to be artistic. Truthfully, either because they were just smart, my opinion, or because of the school, they did pretty well. They went off to Mountain schools and...well....I'm not sure. They were dramatic. They were them.
So, I have to take issue with some of the opening scenes in this movie. There is is this HUGE hypocritical aspect to this move. I went to school in LA and saw what could be seen. Guggenheim drives his kids through Los Angeles, up to a private school. No Joke, He made an entire moire directed at people, just like him, trying to convey that they should feel bad about being so lazy about public schools. Wait...What? He showed himself driving his kids to a private school and then berated people, just like him, for giving up on public schools. Wow.
In any case, what I though was most interesting was his coverage of Charter Schools. I loved the idea of that the teachers could overcome the system and that the 'differen't' could address a child's needs. I thought, at times, that it was overly political, and highlighted the benefits of Charter and Alternative schools. As you may see in my pedagogy project, not all Charter schools are equal. Not all are honest.
With regard to the aspects of Tenure. I can't imagine. My mother, who mastered at the Sorbonne, and teaches at both a high school and college, is not a fan, at all, of tenure. I think most good teachers fall somewhere in the middle. One the one hand doing a good job should allow you to keep your job and your actions and work would, ideally, speak for itself. So I agree with him here. On the other hand, however, the direction that school seems to be going further in, decentralized control, means that arbitrary decisions could put teachers, even great teachers, at risk. The whims of administrations, as well, come in to play, and with so many factors floating around... so, it isn't a simple question. I think the biggest benefit on NOT having tenure in place, is that is doesn't allow a teacher to just float and do a bad job. Just like any other job, When someone is unable, unwilling, or not suitable to do the work, especially with students, they should be terminated.
Was it Eipic?
I suppose it was because from everything I saw, agreed, and disagreed with, it made me want to be a better teacher. I have reservations about Charter schools, as I mentioned. I have a video of one of the 'rooms' up of a school (in my dig. pedagogy section) and while I appreciate their ability to target certain types of students, helping them in special ways, the possibility of them just operating as businesses, for some people's profit, seems high.
Also, as was shown (maybe heavily handidly) in the documentary. Because many Charters are so popular they have a high number of students clamoring to get in. As we followed the stories of the individual in the movie, it was hard to watch that their hard work hopes and dreams, and there belief that the Charters were their ticket to success, rested upon their number being called, their ball from the roller being pulled, or some other lottery. I admire the dedication of the teachers but just wish we could expand that to demonstrating that will public teachers as well.
All in all, though? I was both moved and highly motivated by the movie. I can't WAIT to start!