From the host of problems presented, he subtly guides the viewer toward what he perceives as the real problem of education: bad teachers and the unions that protect them.
His solution, what the film presents as hope for salvation for all five children and their families: charter schools. Perhaps to seem unbiased, Guggenheim concedes that only one in five charter schools produces exceptional results. Focusing on a few exceptional schools as if they are typical, Guggenheim has found his superheroes and touts their successes with unrestrained zeal and an uncritical lens.
For example, the viewer sees footage from the early s of a teacher reading a newspaper while his students sit listless at their desks. This level of neglect is what Guggenheim argues is happening in all neighborhood public schools. The odds against them are 20 to 1. Lucky students leap in joy. The other 19 of the 20 will return to their neighborhood schools, which more or less guarantees they will be part of a 50 percent dropout rate.
The key thing to keep in mind is that underprivileged, inner-city kids at magnet schools such as Kipp L. Prep or the Harlem Success Academy will do better academically than well-off suburban kids with fancy high school campuses, athletic programs, swimming pools, closed-circuit TV and lush landscaping.
He dramatizes this failure in a painfully direct way, says what is wrong, says what is right. One of his charts gets a laugh from the audience: Of developed nations, American students rank last in math skills.
When the students are asked to guess their standing, Americans put themselves first. Meanwhile, jobs in Silicon Valley go without qualified Americans to fill them, and tech companies must import skilled employees from India and other "poor" countries. Guggenheim focuses on an African-American educator named Geoffrey Canada , who deliberately chose the poorest area of Harlem to open his Harlem Success Academy.
His formula: qualified teachers, highly motivated, better paid. Emphasis on college prep from day one. Tutoring for those behind in math or reading. There are also charter boarding schools, with no TV or no video games. One kid says he wants in, but "my feelings are bittersweet. One problem with most schools, Guggenheim says, is that after teachers gain tenure in two years, it is almost impossible to fire them.
In Illinois, for example, one out of 57 doctors loses his medical license, but only one in 2, teachers is fired. Some teachers flatly inform their students they have no intention of teaching.
Guggenheim blames the powerful American Federation of Teachers, which is the top donor to national Democratic campaigns and state Republican campaigns. Any move to discipline incompetent teachers is met with fierce resistance.
A union teacher is a teacher for life. Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy. A lot or a little? The parents' guide to what's in this movie. Stands out for positive role models. Positive Messages. Positive Role Models.
Blighted neighborhoods are shown, hinting at the challenges there. A subject uses the word "crap" in relation to the school system she manages. Also "ass. Some background smoking. Continue reading Show less. Stay up to date on new reviews. Get full reviews, ratings, and advice delivered weekly to your inbox. User Reviews Parents say Kids say. Parent of a year-old Written by lstephe November 26, Imperfect Very biased and unfair and discouraging to thousands of hard working teachers. The film is simplistic and one sided and doesn't tell the whole story.
Continue reading. Report this review. Adult Written by johninbaltimore November 5, The Truth Behind the Fantasy 1. It is not impossible to get rid of ineffective teachers, as stated by some respondents. It takes effort to accomplish this task. School systems and most ad Kid, 11 years old May 22, I don't usually watch documentaries but this was good. There really isn't any "inappropriate" content.
It can sometimes be sad though, like in one part a boy says his dad died because he took drugs. Kid, 11 years old January 2, A really good choice None of the topics the website gives for rating the movie really fit. It is a documentary which means little kids will probably get bored, but for the older kid What's the story?
Is it any good? Talk to your kids about
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