Sticking to Basics

OK class, does everyone remember the golden rule for movies about teachers? It goes like this: It doesn’t matter what era the movie was made or what time period it depicts, movies about teachers always offer the same lesson--that teachers can learn as much from their students as their students can from them.

Go back as far as “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” or move forward to this year, with films such as the just-opened “Anna and the King” and the recent “Music of the Heart.” Inevitably there’s that moment when the lightbulb goes off over the teacher’s head, as he or she realizes that, just maybe, teachers need to learn things not taught in education classes.

And those aren’t the only similarities, as a survey of some movies about teachers shows.

“Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1939) Teacher: Mr. Chips (Robert Donat)

Inspirational speech from a superior: “Our business is to mold men.”

How class treats him at first: rudely.

Teacher thinks about quitting: when he is passed over for a promotion.

Teacher gets their attention: by forcing them to miss a key cricket match to make up for classroom misbehavior.

Teacher learns own lesson: when he meets and marries the woman of his dreams, who shows him that compassion is part of teaching too.

Inspirational message from a student: “Goodbye, Mr. Chips.”

“Blackboard Jungle” (1955) Teacher: Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford, with Anne Francis, below)

Inspirational speech from a superior: “Don’t be a hero--and never turn your back on the class.”

How class treats him at first: like sharks with chum.

Teacher thinks about quitting: after a group of students attacks and beats him in an alley.

Teacher gets their attention: by showing them a cartoon about Jack and the beanstalk, which triggers class discussion for the first time.

Teacher learns own lesson: by reaching out to wise-guy class leader (Sidney Poitier), who ends up covering his back in a classroom fight with psychopathic sophomore Vic Morrow.

Inspirational message from a student: “Ever try to fight 35 guys at one time, Teach?”

“To Sir, With Love” (1967) Teacher: Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier)

Inspirational speech from superior: “So you’re the new lamb for the slaughter?”

How class treats teacher at first: Girls burn a feminine napkin in classroom heater.

Teacher thinks about quitting: almost immediately, saying, “These kids are the devil incarnate.”

Teacher gets their attention: by teaching them to make a salad and telling them, “Every new fashion is a form of rebellion.”

Teacher learns own lesson: when kids all tell him that he changed their lives, just as he has accepted well-paying engineering job.

Inspirational message from a student: Lulu sings him title song.

“Stand and Deliver” (1987) Teacher: Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos)

Inspirational speech from superior: “You can’t teach logarithms to illiterates.”

How class treats teacher at first: breaks into his car and steals his radio.

Teacher thinks about quitting: after his kids are accused of cheating on advanced calculus test.

Teacher gets their attention: by showing up for class dressed as though he were working at McDonald’s to show them their future if they don’t take math seriously.

Teacher learns own lesson: when students get so inspired that they give up summer vacation to study calculus.

Inspirational message from students: Class gives him a plaque after they all pass advanced calculus test.

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) Teacher: John Keating (Robin Williams)

Inspirational speech from superior: “You take a big risk by encouraging them to become artists. When they realize they’re not Rembrandts, Mozarts or Shakespeares, they’ll hate you.”

How class treats teacher at first: like he fell from the moon.

Teacher thinks about quitting: when his teaching leads to a student’s suicide.

Teacher gets their attention: by imitating Marlon Brando and John Wayne performing Shakespeare.

Teacher learns own lesson: with that suicide thing.

Inspirational message from student: uptight student Ethan Hawke improvises a poem out loud a la Allen Ginsberg.

“Dangerous Minds” (1995) Teacher: LouAnne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer)

Inspirational speech from superior: “All you’ve got to do is get their attention.”

How class treats teacher at first: alpha wolf in hoodlum pack makes sexual advances.

Teacher thinks about quitting: from the start.

Teacher gets their attention: by teaching them karate.

Teacher learns own lesson: when kids respond to poetry class because she uses Bob Dylan lyrics for “Mr. Tambourine Man.”

Inspirational message from student: “You mean this poetry is, like, in secret code?”

“Mr. Holland’s Opus” (1995) Teacher: Mr. Holland (Richard Dreyfuss)

Inspirational speech from superior: “I don’t think of teaching as a fallback position, and I grow nervous around people who do.”

How class treats teacher at first: student orchestra plays Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony as though tone-deaf.

Teacher thinks about quitting: because he wants to be a serious composer.

Teacher gets their attention: by showing them that Bach is the basis for the Toys’ “A Lover’s Concerto.”

Teacher learns own lesson: when hopeless student learns to play drums--later, student dies in Vietnam War.

Inspirational message from student: “We are your songs, Mr. Holland. We are the music of your life.”

“Anna and the King” (1999) Teacher: Anna Leonowens (Jodie Foster)

Inspirational speech from superior: “All things have their time in Siam.”

How class treats teacher at first: with curious detachment.

Teacher thinks about quitting: when king orders execution of one of her students, a concubine who tried to escape.

Teacher gets their attention: by disciplining crown prince for fighting in class.

Teacher learns own lesson: when students and king show her that her philosophy (“The ways of England are the ways of the world”) may not be true.

Inspirational message from student: Sir, [Anna] you have performed a miracle.”

“Music of the Heart” (1999) Teacher: Roberta Guaspari (Meryl Streep)

Inspirational speech from superior: “You can’t teach these kids to play the violin.”

How class treats teacher at first: like bored children who have never been challenged.

Teacher thinks about quitting: after being upbraided by superior for speaking sharply to her students.

Teacher gets attention: by acting like a strict mother who has expectations about their performance.

Teacher learns own lesson: when previously disapproving parents and faculty rally around violin program threatened by budget cuts.

Inspirational message from student: “I really want to play the violin--but my mother won’t let me.”