Seeing as it's Winter break and we have some time to watch lots of movies, I have come up with this awesome list of the top movies all about teachers!
I don't know about you, but I really enjoy watching teacher films - they can be so relatable, inspiring and often unrealistically hilarious! Obviously our chosen career is so amazing that they have made lots of films about it, especially teachers of teenagers (plus let's be real here, many of the things that happen to us as teachers are definitely movie material...!)
I don't know about you, but I really enjoy watching teacher films - they can be so relatable, inspiring and often unrealistically hilarious! Obviously our chosen career is so amazing that they have made lots of films about it, especially teachers of teenagers (plus let's be real here, many of the things that happen to us as teachers are definitely movie material...!)
Without further ado, in no particular order, here is the first part of my list of the top teacher movies!
1) Freedom Writers
A very inspirational true story. This is about a new English teacher who enters into a very tough high school with a class of "unteachables". She comes across a lot of conflict from all directions in her efforts to teach them. She manages to utilise inspiration from 'The Freedom Riders' during the time of racial segregation, to encourage her students to express themselves in writing in a similar way The Freedom Riders did by riding the buses. I don't want to give too much away, but it is a wonderful film. A great one to watch when you're having those "why do I teach again?" days as it brings home how important influential and inspiring teaching is.
1) Freedom Writers
A very inspirational true story. This is about a new English teacher who enters into a very tough high school with a class of "unteachables". She comes across a lot of conflict from all directions in her efforts to teach them. She manages to utilise inspiration from 'The Freedom Riders' during the time of racial segregation, to encourage her students to express themselves in writing in a similar way The Freedom Riders did by riding the buses. I don't want to give too much away, but it is a wonderful film. A great one to watch when you're having those "why do I teach again?" days as it brings home how important influential and inspiring teaching is.
"Nobody ever listens to a teenager. Everybody thinks you should be happy just because you're young. They don't see the wars that we fight every single day." Brandy.
2) Bad Teacher
From the inspirational to the ridiculous! A story about a disaffected educator who is the epitome of a 'bad teacher' - being hungover in class, sleeping on her desk, showing videos in class etc.. all until a bonus pay is up for grabs for the class who gets the highest grades. She wants it for a new pair of boobs of course, and will go through extreme lengths to ensure she wins! It's a hilarious film and worth a watch for a giggle, even if it does make me wish I could get away with putting my feet up like she does!
"Hi! I'm a math terrorist, with close ties to Al-Gebra, with weapons of mass instruction!" Amy Squirrel
3) Dead Poet's Society
An oldie but a goodie. An inspiring story of an English teacher in a traditional boys school. His students deal with immense pressures of the exceedingly high expectations from the school and their parents. He reaches out to his students in unorthodox ways to inspire them to follow their dreams. Definitely a classic!
"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world." John Keating
5) Here Comes The Boom
I feel this film is really underrated and no one ever talks about it, which is shocking as it is a fantastic movie! It's a comedy about a science teacher who tries to raise money for the school as they are planning on closing down the music department to cut costs. In order to raise the money needed, the teacher takes up mixed martial arts and enters into a competition. It is hilarious but still managed to bring a tear or two to my eye, truly inspiring and wonderfully presented. I really recommend watching this film!
"You’ve got to go after your dreams. If you don’t make an effort, nothing’s ever going to change." Scott Voss
4) School of Rock
A rock star recently kicked out of his band, somehow manages to get a subbing job to earn some money. As rock music is his passion, he basically dismisses the rest of the curriculum and focuses on rock in his attempt to turn his class into his own rock band, but not without conflicts along the way! It's a good laugh, especially watching someone new try their hand at teaching and realising it isn't what they thought it would be!
"8:15 to 10, rock history. 10 to 11, rock appreciation in theory. And then band practice till the end of the day" Dewey Finn
There they are, if you haven't seen these yet I highly suggest you do as they're fantastic! Have you seen any of these? What did you think?
Stay tuned for the second part to my teacher movie series coming soon, make sure you subscribe to be notified of new posts!
Remember, teachers are awesome, inspiring, funny and sometimes ridiculous... and no matter how crazy our jobs seem sometimes, we must keep pushing forward as you never know, someday your teacher life could become a movie too!
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