Great Teacher Movies
If you want to see tribulations and triumphs of teachers, this list gives some entertaining stories, older, and more contemporary.
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10 titles
- DirectorArthur PennStarsAnne BancroftPatty DukeVictor JoryThe story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate.This is the ultimate film for the challenge of teaching a child who is blind and deaf. When Helen Keller was a child there were no special education classes. Annie Sullivan was a gifted teacher with infinite patience, and kept making the effort to teach until she found a way to communicate with her student. Most teachers thrive on that "Aha" moment when the light bulb turns on over the student's head (metaphorically, that is. Helen Keller went on to help many other students with learning difficulties, and gave presentations all over the US about overcoming barriers to learning.
- DirectorRichard BrooksStarsGlenn FordAnne FrancisLouis CalhernA new English teacher at a violent, unruly inner-city school is determined to do his job, despite resistance from both students and faculty.An oldie, but an eyeopener to remind some of our younger students that difficult neighborhoods are not just a product of their generations. The book was an engaging read, also, if you want to read as much as watch the Readers' Digest movie version.
- DirectorHenry KosterStarsJennifer JonesRobert StackKipp HamiltonAfter her admission to the hospital, town-famous stern teacher Miss Dove nostalgically reminisces about her youth and about the pupils she taught over the years.Another older movie that reminds me that different personality teachers can help different students, depending on their needs. Somewhat sentimental, but worth a look.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsPatrick BedfordSandy DennisEileen HeckartThe experiences of a young female English teacher in an inner-city New York high school.Ivy League brand new teacher meets inner city school kids. Reminds me of my field experiences at Smith High and Murphy High (both of which are closed now.) Her passion and determination not to give up on her students embody the drive of the best teachers I have known.
- DirectorJames ClavellStarsSidney PoitierJudy GeesonChristian RobertsIdealistic engineer-trainee and his experiences in teaching a group of rambunctious white high school students from the slums of London's East End.Sidney Poitier tries to work with some cheeky Brit students to help them learn. Everyone learns something new. Sidney Poitier is lovable, admirable, at times, and a real trooper with these kids. The song is somewhat sentimental, but many folks hold a sentimental spot in their heart for a teacher that didn't give up on them.
- DirectorRamón MenéndezStarsEdward James OlmosEstelle HarrisMark PhelanThe story of Jaime Escalante, a high school teacher who successfully inspired his dropout-prone students to learn calculus.Edward James Olmos does an excellent job relating to kids in a summer school math class. Their college prep test scores improve so much the testing organization has them retake the test, with a fairly predictable outcome. The students' challenges in their personal lives promote both laughter and tears.
- DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerPenelope Ann MillerPamela ReedA tough cop must pose as a kindergarten teacher in order to locate a dangerous criminal's ex-wife, who may hold the key to putting him behind bars.Arnold Swartzenegger delivers a different perspective on an individual who gets in a classroom and quickly wonders what the h**l she/he is doing there. Linda Hunt provides a wise and quirky role as a principal. I don't think Arnie's authoritarian methods would not necessarily with older kids, but they do well for helping these kids get quiet enough to be ready to learn. Funny and heroic, with a love story that isn't really typical of all elementary schools, but entertaining nevertheless.
- CreatorGabe KaplanAlan SacksPeter MeyersonStarsGabe KaplanRon PalilloJohn TravoltaA compassionate teacher returns to his inner city high school of his youth to teach a new generation of trouble making kids.In my opinion, much of this series was an opportunity for 'The Fonz', not to mention John Travolta's role to showcase. Kotter's relationship with the students is somewhat contrived, but the series is worth watching because so many cultural stereotypes came out of this series. And it's fun to watch. Sort of like Friday afternoon in Chemistry class, when the teacher and the kids are tired, and a little bit of cutting up helps wind up a busy week.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsVincent PriceBarbara SteeleJohn KerrIn the sixteenth century, Francis Barnard travels to Spain to clarify the strange circumstances of his sister's death after she had married the son of a cruel Spanish Inquisitor.Something of a reach to call this a teacher movie. I had extra time to fill before giving my students a physics final. My department chair had the film, and I picked it out. I gave extra credit to students who could give a reasonable physics answer to the question " Where did the potential energy come from to give the pendulum the energy to swing back and forth (there were no electrical motors back then) for more than a few rounds. Lots of movies have opportunities for the "teachable moment".
- DirectorRandal KleiserStarsJohn TravoltaOlivia Newton-JohnStockard ChanningGood girl Sandy Olsson and greaser Danny Zuko fell in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance?Travolta, again. This movie concentrates more on the students' growth as they are leaving high school, which teachers of that age group have to cope with as you get closer to graduation day. It does point out how shop classes help these guys (and some of us girls) get rid of some energy while learning about interesting automobiles.