My Favorite Teachers in Film

Last night I found myself thinking about my fast-approaching 10 year high school reunion. There’s been enough space between myself and that time of life for me to really examine the legacy of my teenage years. The more I think about it, the more I cherish the experiences I had with my favorite teachers. Aside from my parents, they were the main influences which shaped who I am today. There’s a sub-genre of film I believe tells the stories of young people and their favorite teachers beautifully. I decided to slack off from work today and compile a list of some of my favorites.

Oh, and if any of my past teachers are reading this and wondering if I wrote this with them in mind? The answer is probably yes. I APPRECIATE YOU!!

Dewey Finn — School of Rock

In all fairness, Dewey is a bad teacher. He comes to work hungover, lies to his class, and kidnaps his students for a seedy Battle of the Bands competition. I think about Dewey the same way I think about Batman; I would probably never condone his actions in real life, but he’s a ton of fun to root for onscreen. If you look past his blatantly illegal activities, he’s actually the sweetest and most caring influence in many of these kids’ lives. Dewey helps build up Lawrence’s confidence through piano, he shows Summer that there’s more to life than gold stars (that’s Miranda Cosgrove for anyone who’s not a Millennial), and he gives Freddy a much-needed dressing down when he goes off to party with other bands.

My favorite scene: There’s one teacher/student moment in particular that really melts my heart. Tomika, who is the breakout singer of the band confesses to Dewey that she’s nervous to sing in front of others. She’s afraid that people will laugh at her for being fat. Instead of taking a cliche “of course you’re not fat” approach, Dewey points out legends like Aretha Franklin who aren’t exactly tiny; hell, neither is Dewey. Why not go on a diet? CUZ HE LIKES TO EAT! Dewey teaches this young girl that she’s so much more to her than her body weight. It’s beautiful. I’m sure her character would have taken that sentiment to heart for the rest of her life.

Ms. Rain — Precious

This one gets bonus points because it’s not a part of a sub-sub genre of repressed private school kids being liberated by a kooky teacher. Precious is an absolutely gut-wrenching portrait of inner-city life. It’s not a light film to watch, and her abusive mother played by Mo’Nique may be one of the best performances of our generation. The most important relationship in the story is between Precious and her teacher at her new alternative school. Ms. Rain patiently and persistently peels back the layers of Precious’s inner-life. She understands that helping her is no easy task and it’s likely to fail, but she tries her hardest nonetheless. She fosters a sense of community amongst the girls in her class, so they all help each other through hard times as well. Ms. Rain is not only the antithesis of Precious’s cruel mother, she is also the antithesis of her uncaring Social Worker. A woman whose sole objective is to funnel Precious into a low-paying labor position so she can check a box in her file.

My favorite scene: After Precious and her newborn baby go home from the hospital (where we meet Lenny Kravitz, a “top nurse in film” contender), the stark reality of her home life quickly comes back into focus. Precious and her baby narrowly escapes her hellish home in one piece. The only option she has is to break into her classroom for the night. Ms. Rain doesn’t call the police when she discovers her. She takes Precious into her home until they can figure out something else to do. Ms. Rain and Precious spend a cozy night opening presents together. It’s perhaps the only moment of wholesome home-life in this devastating story, making the scene all the more special.

Mr. Bruner — Edge of 17

Edge of 17 is one of my favorite movies about high school. Its characters are so melodramatic, yet there’s an absence of any melodramatic setting. After all, that’s what being seventeen is for most people. Nadine has an incredibly hard time finding her place in the world. Her home life is supportive, yet broken, after the death of her father. She feels alone at school, which is only further heightened by her older brother’s popularity.

In a sense, this film is a series of vignettes as Nadine forcibly inserts herself into Mr. Bruner’s life; most often while he’s trying to enjoy lunch by himself. Nadine thinks about everyone in boxes. Mr. Bruner is pathetic and bald. She tells him that he should date her mother because men love to be the hero for fragile women. Her older brother’s life is perfect. He’s popular and has everything he wants.

It’s only after Nadine can comprehend that other people have complex inner-lives, that she’s able to find peace. Her brother for example, feels crippling pressure to take care of their family after their fathers death.

My favorite scene: Mr. Bruner is patient, and perhaps even a little reluctant to help Nadine. But he is the one person who fully acknowledges that her life is complex. He’s there to quietly guide her to the understanding that other people are also complex. In one of their lunchtime vignettes, Nadine flip-flops from complimenting Mr. Bruner to brutally insulting him. Mr. Bruner takes all of this in stride and offers half of his cookie to Nadine. “Guess what,” he says. “You’re my favorite student.”

Mr. Anderson — Perks of Being a Wallflower

For the record, I love this movie and I also think it’s really dumb. As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “The test of intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and retain the ability to function.” Charlie is a loser and he’s battling depression. Somehow, a few weeks into his freshman year, two insanely cool seniors decide to be his friend. Together they drive around town, reenact Rocky Horror Picture Show, and experiment with drugs. Charlie even falls in love with Sam (i.e. Emma Watson), in perhaps the most unrealistic wish fulfillment I’ve ever seen.

Although it’s not the most important dynamic in the story, Charlie’s blossoming friendship with his Advanced English teacher is a beautiful thing. Mr. Anderson regales fascinating factoids to his classroom that only a lifelong learner would bother with. Did you know that Charles Dickens invented the paperback book? Mr. Anderson sure did.

My favorite scene: One of the best things about high school teachers is the low-key, almost secretive friendships that are developed once or twice during those years. Mr. Anderson offers books from his collection to Charlie. Occasionally, Charlie asks him for advice. Finally, on the last day of school, Charlie decides to proudly raise his hand when Mr. Anderson asks if anyone will read for pleasure over summer. After everyone leaves, Mr. Anderson confesses to Charlie that he’s a better teacher than a writer, but Charlie could perhaps write something great one day. In a nutshell, this is what makes teachers great. It’s not about their own potential. It’s about unlocking the potential of others. I’m sure many great writers have had similarly decisive experiences during their childhood.

Mr. Keating — The Dead Poets Society

We watched the first half of this film in my 7th-grade English class. Midway through, there’s a brief scene containing a porno magazine, which our classroom found hilarious. Our teacher stopped the movie because we couldn’t behave ourselves. I didn’t get to fully experience the joy of Dead Poets Society until ten years later.

This is probably the OG teachers movie. A group of young men are indoctrinated at the prestigious Welton Academy in Vermont. They’re carefully groomed for the Ivy League, and a prominent future in medicine, law, and politics.

Mr. Keating (thank you… just thank you, Robin Williams) doesn’t align with the school’s baroque methods. He has his students stand on their desks to look at the world from a different point of view. They rip out pages from a textbook in an act of defiance. Ultimately, they learn to be individuals. Mr. Keating teaches his students that instead of blindly pursuing success, they should try to make their lives extraordinary.

My favorite scene: To be an individual, Mr. Keating first must get his students to step out of their comfort zones. He challenges Todd Anderson (a young Ethan Hawke) to let out a barbaric YAWP in front of the entire classroom. What follows is a riveting escalation from Mr. Keating, challenging Todd to say whatever enters his mind. He speaks about a sweaty-toothed madman and a blanket that always leaves him cold. By the end, both Todd and the entire classroom are convinced that there is perhaps a poet inside him. Cinematic? Yes. But that doesn’t make it any less rewarding to watch this great teacher unlock his student’s potential.