Your Favorite Movie Teacher

The school year will be nearing an end soon and each of us has had a teacher at some point in our academic careers that have made a lasting impression on us. Let’s take a look back at a few movies that pay homage to our favorite kinds of teachers. Which one would have been your favorite?

Mr. Keating, Dead Poet’s Society

Eccentric and passionate, Mr. Keating would tell you to go after your dreams even if all the world were standing against you. He has an uncanny way of relating poetry, an otherwise dry medium to most of us, to our major milestones in life, big and small.

Best quote: “Language was developed for one endeavor, and that is … to woo women!”

 

Mr. Holland, Mr. Holland’s Opus

You wouldn’t want to have Mr. Holland as your teacher during the earlier part of his career, as it takes him many years to grow into his role and find his niche as a music appreciation teacher. But if, and only if, you actually showed any semblance of appreciation for music, he will go out of his way to expand your mind and your heart to appreciating all forms of music.

Best quote: Vice principal Wolters: “If I’m forced to choose between Mozart and reading and writing and long division, I choose long division.”

 Glen Holland: “Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want, Gene. Sooner or later, these kids aren’t going to have anything to read or write about.”

(By the way, if I can recommend two movies for you to watch from this list, I couldn’t recommend Dead Poets and Mr. Holland enough.)

 

Mr. “Schneebly”, School of Rock

Sure, he isn’t qualified to be a teacher, he’s not even qualified for the subbing job he’s posing for. But he sure knows his material – as long as it’s rock ‘n’ roll. But underneath his crazy, quirky exterior, there’s a real talent for making his passion contagious to even the most reluctant students. After all, in the end, isn’t that what makes the best teachers?

Best quote: “I pledge allegiance… to the band… of Mr. Schneebly… and will not fight him… for creative control… and will defer to him on all issues related to the musical direction of the band.”

 

Ms. Johnson, Dangerous Minds

She’s tricked into teaching a more unruly class than she signed up for, but she rises up to the challenge in this teacher movie that’s not for the faint of heart.

Best quote: “There are no victims in this classroom.”

 

Mr. Escalante, Stand and Deliver

His students are likely to drop out. Most success stories like this are because the teacher is teaching poetry, writing, music, you know something that sparks the imagination and brings enjoyment to life. However, how could someone do that with calculous, of all subjects?

Best quote: “You have math in your blood.”

 

Mrs. Gruwell, Freedom Writers

Another teacher up against the odds with a classroom full of would-be drop-outs, Her subject is writing and she successfully teaches her students about tolerance and the danger and stupidity of gangs and organized crime, linking them to the most notorious gang in history – the Nazis.

Best quote: “I’m a teacher. It doesn’t matter what color I am.”

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