3 Inspirational Teacher Movies for Back to School

A great movie makes you laugh and cry. It provokes empathy for the characters and leaves you emotionally moved. For those of us who invest our lives in the classroom, it is inspiring to watch a movie about a teacher in a seemingly hopeless situation--fighting against bureaucracy and culture--who succeeds in getting through to the students. Here are some teacher-inspiring movies, based on true stories, that will make you cry quietly and cheer out loud.

Lean on Me

This biographical drama is based on the story of Joe Clark, a teacher and principal in New Jersey (played by Morgan Freeman). After being branded as a "radical" teacher, Clark is assigned to an failing inner city school plagued with drug dealers and violence. He immediately takes radical action--expelling 300 students on a single day, locking school doors to keep drug dealers out, requiring all students to sing the school song on demand. Despite the animosity of teachers, parents and students, Clark continues his clean-up campaign and eventually the changes begin to happen. Prepare for a tearful moment at the end of the film.

Stand and Deliver

This is another inspirational movie based on a true story. Jaime Escalante is hired as a math teacher in a troubled school filled with low-performing Hispanic students. When he sees that conventional teaching methods are not working, he decides to shake things up and challenge the students to prepare for higher level math competitions. His demands are eventually appreciated by students and parents, and his classes begin to taste the joy of success. Once again, the maverick teacher finds ways to get through to his students.

Miracle Worker

Although Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller's tutor, is not usually thought of when discussing great teachers, this movie is an inspiration for those working with difficult demanding children. Annie cannot break through to Helen's obvious extremely bright mind because of her pitying parents. When Ms. Sullivan convinces the family to let her teach in an environment where Helen must be totally dependent on her, Helen begins to make a breakthrough. Of course the great moment in the film is when Annie, utterly exhausted and feeling that she has failed, spells into Helen's hand one more time, and Helen "gets it".

So, why not take a break from putting together bulletin boards, reorganizing supplies and making lesson plans? Go rent a good movie and get re-motivated!