LEARNING ABOUT TEACHERS THROUGH FILM Article by Angela Raimo, Roberta Devlin-Scherer, and Debra Zinicola

Hook Close your eyes.

Summary of the Article Purpose: To show dominant teacher themes in film, discuss the implications of these themes for teacher education, and identify how teachers should be portrayed in future films. Teachers in media can affect how real teachers are viewed. Media needs to move beyond stereotypes to show teachers in realistic settings, meaningfully impacting students.

Types of Teachers Teacher ThemeDescription Guardian of Culture and LiberatorBenevolent, sympathetic, dedicated (sometimes too dedicated) Iconoclast and SubverterDestroys conventions, has radical opinions, manipulative Alien-Culture BearerNovice, naïve, emotionally unprepared, lacking experience. After difficulties, is transformed by the students, and forms warm, significant relationships with students Agent of ChangeAggressive, goal-oriented, tenacious, seeks change in the system, establishes mutual trust and respect with students LearnerInitially disconnected from teaching and the students, but learns how to teach and care for their students Compassionate MentorCaring, helps students achieve success through established curriculum, or by creating an appropriate curriculum Weak TeacherIncompetent, impotent, unconcerned, having contempt for students, amoral (often got into teaching for the summers off)

Group Activity 5 groups of 6 On the front of the sheet is all the info you will need to answer the questions on the sheet. For each clip identify the teacher theme. Fill out the Lasswells Communication Model And answer the remaining question (Which are a mix from the article and our own).

Clip 1 – Welcome Back, Mr. Kotter atch?v=PLCadqX3Z34 atch?v=PLCadqX3Z34 Start at 4:30mins

Clip 2 - The Breakfast Club atch?v=bTeYncx1xmI atch?v=bTeYncx1xmI

Clip 3 – Dangerous Minds tch?v=gA-5nLQCmW8 tch?v=gA-5nLQCmW8

Clip 4 - Freedom Writers tch?v=G0rXUr-msX0 tch?v=G0rXUr-msX0

Different medias - Movies vs. TV Conclusion