Doubt (2008)

Doubt (2008), featuring a wonderful cast, is a tense story set in a Bronx Catholic school in 1964. Meryl Streep plays Sister Beauvier, the principal of the school; Amy Adams plays Sister James, a younger, less experience teacher; Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the controversial Father Brendan Flynn; and Viola Davis plays Mrs. Miller, the mother of Donald Miller, a student at the school.



Doubt - Trailer
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Donald Miller is the first and only African American student in the school. His parents enrolled him at the Catholic school after he had been beaten at his former (public) school. Father Flynn takes an interest in Donald, but his actions are questioned by Sister James, who in turn, alerts Sister Beauvier to her concerns. Their suspicions of Flynn's inappropriate relationship with Donald are without evidence, yet something does not seem right to them. Sister Beauvier, who disapproves of Father Flynn's more modern approach to the Catholic faith, begins an "investigation" which is based more on assumptions and intellectual tricks than on facts.

In terms of conducting her investigation and deciding upon an appropriate action to take as Principal, Sister Beauvier appears to defy the rules of the Catholic order. She informs Father Flynn that she contacted his past parish, to ask why he had left the school. Flynn is furious at her for not following the proper channels and for going outside the established Catholic hierarchy and school policies. Although she did not actually contact his past parish, she leverages her supposed discovery of his past against him, pressuring him to leave. Aside from the issues pertaining to her defiance for the Catholic hierarchy, there is obvious issues of gender and power operating here. As a female principal, she finds a way to overpower him through a series of intellectual tricks, and attempts to destroy his career.

Donald's mother provides an interesting twist on parental involvement and decision making in education. Confronted with the possibility that her son is being molested by the school's priest, she questions the evidence and likelihood that this could even happen to her son. Even if it is true, she states that her son only needs to stay in the school until the spring, when he can graduate and move on to high school. This raises the question of what length parents will go to for their child's education, and at what cost? Mrs. Miller viewed the possibility of her son being the victim of a priest's sexual misconduct as only temporary, and was willing to risk the well-being of her son for the educational gains that could be made by remaining in the Catholic school. While some may question her reaction and request to leave things as is, others may understand her decision to better her son's education at all costs.

The Life of David Gale (2003)

I'm not ashamed to admit...I have a huge crush on Kevin Spacey. I loved him in The Usual Suspects, The Shipping News, and L.A. Confidential. But it wasn't until recently that I had the pleasure of seeing him in The Life of David Gale (2003), where he plays the lead role. It is not his most recent portrayal of a college professor, but we'll save the discussion of 21 (2008) - admittedly not his best movie - for another post...

Co-starring Laura Linney and Kate Winslet, David Gale is a professor from the University of Texas at Austin, and a well-known activist working to end the death penalty in the State of Texas. Linney plays Constance Harraway, a fellow academic/activist, who Gale is accused of murdering. Summoned by Gale to uncover the truth of the murder, Winslet plays an investigative reporter, Bitsey Bloom, and has only 4 days to prove his innocence before he is executed. Through a series of interviews with Gale, a bit of investigative journalism, and the well-timed discovery of new pieces of evidence, she begins to piece together just how Gale was involved in Harraway's death.

Bloom's assistant, played by Gabriel Mann, points out that Gale must be innocent simply because he is too intelligent to have committed a crime in such a clumsy manner. His claim is supported by the fact that Gale graduated at the top of his class at Harvard, and that he has two (yes, two!) books published. Gale's level of activism prior to his incarceration might be considered high-profile for the average academic. But through the support of his colleagues, particularly Harraway, he is portrayed as being able to balance his desire to overturn the use of capital punishment in Texas, as well as fulfill all of his professorial duties, including teaching. It is interesting to see how the role of the professor is viewed as multi-dimensional, and how his activism plays off his teaching, and vice versa.

As Gale's involvement in Harraway's death is revealed, and the scope of his actions and motivations are fully understood, the label of "genius" seems appropriate- not just in the sense of his intellectual capabilities- but in the sense of his crafty ability to manipulate the penal system to successfully overturn the death penalty policy, even at his own demise.

Watch the trailer here:

Lewis Black: On Education

Lewis Black's take on the state of education in America:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Back in Black - Education Crisis
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans, starting Denzel Washington, is based on the true story of Herman Boone, who, in 1971, became the first African American football coach at Virginia's T.C. Williams High School. The movie focuses on Boone's experiences as a head coach, and his attempt to integrate the team under difficult circumstances in a formerly segregated state. The power struggle between the white and African American communities is central to the movie, with whites seeing the black coach as a threat to their "way of life" and the black community viewing Boone as a symbol of what they can achieve.

Early in the movie, Julius, a white transfer student who "has no people," joins the football team and befriends a number of black players, resulting in his white classmates calling him a traitor. His aspirations of going to college are dim, stating that he is "not a braniac like Rev [a black player]". Julius not only befriend black players and students at school (and in doing so sees past "the other" that many of his white teammates see), but he also recognizes their academic abilities and talents. Although Julius lacks academic confidence, Boone begins monitoring his course progress every week, and works with him to improve his grades. By the end of the year, Julius' grades are high enough that he can attend college. Boone's outreach and mentoring to Julius represents one of the many ways in which athletic coaches can and should emphasize their students' academics, and encourage college-going.

Boone, along with Assistant Coach Bill Yoast (played by Will Patton), are integral in the team's progress toward integration. The role of the two coaches in helping the team integrate brings to mind Gordon Allport's foundational work "The Nature of Prejudice," published in the early 1950s. Allport outlines the four necessary conditions under which integration can be achieved:

1. The groups are desegregated
2. The group members have equal status
3. The groups are working toward a common goal
4. The groups have the full support of the authorities (i.e., adults, law, etc.)

Boone's policies with regard to the team reflect demand for respect and inclusion. For instance, during training camp, each team member is required to spend time with a teammate of a different race, until each person has met all of their teammates. Boone also insists on a no-cut policy, allowing all interested students--regardless of race--an opportunity to play football. While his role is integral in helping transform his team during camp, his insistence on respect and inclusion become even more important when they return home, where prejudices, biases, and discrimination are apparent. The reality of racism that exists in their community is apparent, even though they have begun to integrate as a team. For instance, when the players attempt to eat a restaurant in town, the owner refuses to serve the black players. Meanwhile, white residents throw a rock through a window in Boone's house, hoping to intimidate him and his family.

The team's record speaks for itself and by winning game after game, the team wins the town over. As a police officer says, the team has the best defense he has seen in 20 years. Not long after they prove themselves on the field, does the town begin to turn around and support them. They end the season undefeated (13-0), as state champions, and as runner-up to the national champion.

The friendships created on the field last long after the football season ends. Two of the players who become close friends, talk about their futures--living in the same neighborhood and growing old as friends--and imagine a different world--one that they have the power to create. In this one season, the coaches learned as much from the students as the students learned from them--much more than just the game of football but about each other, discrimination, acceptance, and tolerance. By extension, the communities surrounding them learned as well.

Today, the T.C. Williams High School student body is comprised of 43% African Americans, 7% Asian/Pacific Islanders, 27% Hispanic, and 21% white.

Watch the trailer here.

The Freshman (1990)

The Freshman (1990), starring Matthew Broderick as Clark Kellogg, portrays the extremes that college students may go to in an effort to ease the financial burden of going to college.

The trailer can be viewed here.

Originally from Vermont, Clark catches a train to New York City by himself, with only a few pieces of luggage and $600 given to him by his parents--a notable difference when compared to today's level of consumption and doting parents of some college students. Being slightly gullible and unfamiliar with the New York City, Clark agrees to a ride to campus, only to have all of his luggage stolen by the driver, played by Bruno Kirby.

Unsure where to turn for help, Clark solicits advise from his professor. The professor, who comes off as self-centered, arrogant, and pompous, insists that despite his unfortunate situation, Clark must purchase the required readings for the semester, including a textbook authored by the professor. The books are expected to cost him $700, which is expensive even by today's standards. After hearing Clark express his concerns about being able to pay for his textbooks, his professor says, "I'm your faculty advisor, not your case worker," showing complete disregard for Clark's financial struggles.

Ironically, Clark finds the man who stole his luggage from him, who in turn offers Clark a job that pays well ($1,000 a week) and has flexible hours. As he puts it, the job is "perfect for a college student," and Clark's money woes soon disappear. Not long after he begins his new job, Clark realizes he is working for the mob boss, Carmine Sabatini, played by Marlon Brando.

Between the odd-jobs Clark is asked to complete, he befriends Sabatini's daughter, Tina, played by Penelope Ann Miller. Tina explains to Clark that she will be attending Harvard next year, all due to a phone call her father made to the university. Her admission was in exchange for Sabatini helping to present the union workers from striking. Tina, by association with her father, also carries quite a bit of clout amongst New Yorkers. She exercises her own influence by telling Clark's professor that Clark is an "A" student, making it clear what grade he will receive for the course.

Although Clark attends classes at NYU, much of his education is delivered to him "on the streets" as opposed to in the classroom. Sabatini becomes a father figure and teacher to Clark, providing him with an education that he would never receive from a formal educational setting. Ironically, the main outcome of his freshman year comes in the form of street smarts, not book smarts, even though paying for college was his main motivation for accepting the job offer.

In the end, everything works out for Clark and the Sabatini Family. Clark is able to survive his freshman year and has enough money to pay for college. His job certainly distracted him from his studies, but with friends like Sabatini, Clark needed worry about a poor academic performance.

Alka Seltzer: Acceptance Letter

This blog originally intended to focus on the portrayal of education simply in television and movies, but more examples are coming to my attention of how education is portrayed through other mediums, including commercials.

A recent ad by Alka Seltzer, shows a father about to take a bite of a sandwich when his daughter runs into the kitchen announcing that she has been admitted to what she calls "one of the best schools in the country."

The scene is replayed, not showing what the daughter said, but what the father heard: "I got into one of the most expensive schools in the country!"

Watch the ad:



Alka Seltzer is offered as a way to relieve the heartburn and headache caused by this news. Instead of this being a joyous occasion, as it is for the daughter and mother, the father is stressed simply thinking about how he is going to pay for his daughter's higher education.

Two things to note here:

1. The "best" college is equated with the "most expensive" college. Unfortunately, there is some truth in this connection if the typical high-profile rankings are examined: the top rated colleges and universities in the country typically carry a hefty price tag. However, more students are attending two-year or less expensive four-year universities, and in doing so, are saving money on tuition.
2. The father expects to pay "full price." The majority of schools, even the most expensive ones, offer financial aid packages to enrolled students. The message embedded in the commercial implies that (the "best") universities do not offer financial aid and the father will be paying full price for his daughter to attend college. So...[COST = PRICE - AID]...is important for Dad to keep in mind, especially if he wants to reduce his stress level without Alka Seltzer.

Teen Movies

Turner Classic Movies is showing Teen Movies all night tonight. These each deserve further attention, and will hopefully be given their own post in due time, but for now, the movies are:

Better Off Dead (1985)

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Risky Business (1983)

Fame (1980)

Such a great 80s lineup!

The Paper Chase (1973)

The Paper Chase, a movie that centers on the lives of first-year Harvard Law students, is an entertaining piece about higher education. One of few films that focuses on law students, the movie provides insight into the stresses and pressures of law school, while at the same time painting a stereotypical portrait of law students and professors. The Paper Chase was later made into a TV series, staring John Houseman, and aired from 1978-1986. The trailer can be viewed here.

The Paper Chase provides an excellent reminder that graduate and professional programs are difficult. In my own graduate program, admitting that you were stressed out, overwhelmed, feeling underprepared, and doubting why you were pursuing your advanced degree were seen as signs of weakness. Such realities are often ignored- or worse- hidden from plain sight. The Paper Chase provides a realistic portrait of many of these same issues as faced by graduate students today. Cut-throat competition amongst peers, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of reading and work, comparing yourself to other students, doubting your ability, having breakdowns- all of these issues are portrayed in the movie. On one hand, the film provides a refreshing reminder that what students experience in graduate school today is normal, even if we do not admit or talk openly about it. On the other hand, I have to wonder if this portrayal contributes to stereotypes about law students- that law school is impossibly difficult and those who survive it are smarter than the average bear.

The only professor that appears in the movie is Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr., played by John Houseman. Kingsfield is a highly feared and respected professor, an expert in contract law, and is known for breaking down first-year students. The main character, Hart (played by Timothy Bottoms), throws up after being ripped to shreds in his first class with Kingsfield. His reputation precedes him, and a number of the students would give anything to impress him. He swears by the Socratic method, stating that the students "come here with a skull full of mush, and you leave thinking like a lawyer." Unlike some teachers and professors today, Kingsfield doesn't think twice before telling a student their answer is insufficient, or making an example out of them in class. As with the portrayal of the students, Kingfield's character can be seen as a refreshing take on professors, but also may contribute to the stereotype of how difficult law professors (and by extension, law school) can be.

Other topics that appear within the movie include the balance between family and graduate school, mental health wellness, and social networks via study groups. A number of differences between the early 1970s and now are humorous- law students living in dorms on campus, typewriters, the clothes, and definitely the hair. But also notable is the lack of women in the first-year class. Harvard began admitting women to law school in 1953, and appointed its first female dean, now Supreme Court-nominated Elena Kagan, in 2003. Today, nearly half of Harvard's law students are women.

Finally, the movie portrays higher education at a time when students were not viewed as paying customers to be satisfied by businesses (i.e., colleges). Students in the movie work hard to earn their grades, and they are feel entitled to As. There are no student support services shown in the movie, students respect the professor, and work hard to make an impression on him. The treatment of students as students, versus a tendency to view them as paying customers, is a significant shift, and offers the audience an opportunity to contemplate the condition of higher education today.

Acceptance (2009)

Acceptance is a movie based on Susan Coll's novel of the same name. The movie, which closely follows the book, focuses on three high school students who are applying for college.

Set in a wealthy suburb of Washington, D.C., the quest for being accepted to college is seen through the eyes of three students- the pressure of AP courses and exams, living up to others' expectations, finding the "right fit," and being comfortable with who they are. The book also incorporates other factors that are known to impact college-going: parents' expectations and aspirations, advice from counselors and teachers, performance on AP exams, admissions policies, campus visits, peer influences, and so on.

While Acceptance depicts many aspects of the college-going process, it focuses on the lives of privileged families who reside in an upper-class neighborhood. However, despite their background, upbringing, and what is expected of them, the students struggle to find the right college for them. Their parents, not the students, are the ones who debate which Ivy League is the best college, and are convinced that without an Ivy League education, their children will amount to nothing. In Taylor Rockefeller's case, her mother won't even hear of her daughter thinking of going to the lesser-known Yates College, where Taylor truly believes she will be happiest. For Maya Kaluantharana, her father tells her she has a learning disability because her GPA is 'only a 3.75.'

Although the experiences of the students and their families are not the norm for most high school students in the United States, the movie does incorporate small but important criticisms of college and the college admissions process. For instance, a meeting of the admissions officers at Yates College is used to question the legitimacy of the U.S. News and World Report college rankings. Although the admissions officers acknowledge the rankings are a farce, the instant they find out they are (erroneously) ranked, they are thrilled. Not only do they embrace their ranking, they are excited about the prospect of having an increased applicant pool, from which to reject more students, thereby increasing the college's (perceived) selectivity.

As researchers, the movie also gives us a friendly reality check in terms of the reasons students select their colleges. We can run regression models day and night, but sometimes it is things that don't appear in datasets that explain why a student attended one college over another. And in the end, we find that Acceptance, isn't just about getting accepted to college, but also about being accepted for who you truly are- with your peers and your family.

For an easy and entertaining read, or for a light movie, check it out. As a bonus, Joan Cusak plays the eccentric Mrs. Nina Rockefeller, and gives a humorous performance, as usual. To see her take on the movie: see this short video.

Glee - Theatricality

Theatricality featured music and costumes inspired by Lady Gaga--all entertaining and fun to watch--but the sub-plot dealt with the subject of bullying. The source of the bullying came from two school jocks, who threaten both Kurt and Finn. Playing into stereotypes of school bullying, the two football players threaten to beat Kurt up because, as they explain to him, "We're not Gaga for Gaga...You dress all freaky, and then you rub it in everybody's faces." When Kurt defends himself (and by extension the other Glee Club members), they tell him that the next time he "expresses" himself, they will beat him up. The jocks aren't just targeting Kurt, but also threaten Finn. Although Finn is their teammate, they disapprove of his participation in Glee Club. At one point, Finn verbally attacks Kurt, giving in to the pressure of his peers. Finn redeems himself when he stands up for Kurt, just before the jocks attack him in the school bathroom.

While the bullying aspects of the show definitely took a back seat to the Gaga "theatricality" of the rest of the episode, it does raise an important issue in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report in 2009 on school crime, which includes statistics on school bullying. Nearly 1/3 of junior high and high school students reported being bullied at some point during 2007, including 23 percent who reported that the bullying occurred on school grounds. Of those who reported being bullied, 7 percent reported being bullied almost daily. Although the bullying portrayed in Glee occurred between males, a higher percentage of females reported being bullied. The report disaggregates the information by gender and race/ethnicity, but not by sexuality, which appeared to be a critical catalyst in the Glee storyline.

In addition, cyber-bullying is a new phenomenon that is occurring with the rise of online activity and the number of social networks available to students. Four percent of students reported being bullied online, and some schools have even begun to set policies to reduce cyber-bullying. It will be interesting to see if the writers of Glee incorporate cyber-bullying into a future episode.

Glee - Dream On

This week's episode of Glee centered on William McKinley High School board member Bryan Ryan, played by Neil Patrick Harris, who threatens to cut the glee club in an effort to save the school money. Being a former glee club member who has "come to his senses," Bryan claims that by participating in glee club, students have false hopes and dreams of becoming stars. He not only sees cutting the glee club as a way to save money, but as a way to prevent students from being misled about realizing their dreams.

Will Schuester, the glee club instructor, helps Bryan realize that he still loves to sing, and does not really want to cut the club. Bryan then begins to review other extracurricular programs, including cheerleading.

Bryan argues with Sue Sylvester, the Cheerleader/Cheerios coach that arts and music education benefit students. He provides the example that singing helps students hear different pitches, which helps them learn different languages. Sue argues that since 1/3 of American teenagers are obese and only 2 percent of high schools require daily physical activity, that athletic programs like hers are needed. In addition, sports teaches students how to work together, helps them learn how to solve problems, improves their social skills, and increases attendance and grades. Sue has "done her homework" and she is right, yet many public high schools have cut funding for physical education programs and classes. Bryan is also right, and yet arts education programs are usually the first programs to be cut in a budget crisis.

Sue's statistics are correct, according to a study released by the Center for Disease Control in 2006. Only 2 percent of high schools, 8 percent of middle schools, and 4 percent of elementary schools required daily physical activity. With childhood obesity on the rise in the U.S., and life threatening diseases such as juvenile diabetes increasing in children and teenagers, physical education should be a priority in our schools. At the same time, arts education should not be underfunded or not exist. Somehow, we have to find a way to fund both, and fund both adequately.

The Visitor

The Visitor (2007) is a movie about a recently widowed economics professor, Dr. Walter Vale (played by Richard Jenkins) who's life is changed when he meets a strange couple.Walter is a college professor who lives and works in Connecticut. He is sent to a conference at New York University to present a paper on global economics.

He keeps an apartment in the city but has not been there in quite awhile. When he arrives, he finds a Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira) living there. Tarek is from Syria and is a musician, while girlfriend Zainab is from Senegal and sells handmade jewelry as a street vendor. Although Walter does not call the cops to have them arrested, he asks them to leave. Later that same night, he finds them on the street outside with no where to go, and invites them to stay with him just for a few days.

Overtime, Walter and Tarek become friends, and share their love of music with one another. Walter shows interest in Tarek's drums, and he agrees to teach Walter how to play. One afternoon, after Tarek and Walter have been playing drums together in the park, they take the subway home. Tarek offers to pay Walter's fare, and having difficulty with the drums that they are carrying, Tarek is unable to get through the turnstile even after he has swiped his fare card for each of them. Police officers see him, think that him jumped the turnstile, and arrest him.

Walter learns from Zainab that they are both undocumented immigrants. Tarek is transferred from a police station to a detention center in Queens. Walter, feeling responsible for Tarek's arrest, hires a lawyer to help release Tarek. Tarek's mother travels from Detroit to New York to see if she can help release him from the detention center.

Walter's life as a college professor is portrayed as dull, boring, and very isolating, which seems to be a favorite interpretation of faculty life as portrayed in film. He goes about his life in a depressed manner, attends the conference without enthusiasm, and does not seem to have any joy in his life until he meets Tarek and Zainab. His academic work focuses on the economics of developing countries. When he tells Tarek what the conference that he is attending is about, Tarek says that Walter is studying places like where he and Zainab are from. Those at the conference seem far removed from the experiences of people like Tarek and Zainab, even though what they are researching and presenting on is purportedly related to places such as Syria and Senegal.

During the movie, Walter gives the impression that he is very busy with his work, even though we don't see him doing much in terms of academic work. He tells people that he is busy working on multiple books and they seem impressed. It is not until he meets Tarek's mother that he confesses:

I haven't done any real work in a very long time. I pretend. Pretend that I'm busy; that I'm working. I'm not doing anything.

This made me think about how some academics seem to enjoy bragging to one another about how busy they are, as if it is a competition to see who can be the busiest. And yet, perhaps because he was lacking a personal-professional balance in his life, his professional work was unproductive. Until he begins to play the drums and 'lives a little,' his character doesn't really come alive.

You can watch the preview of The Visitor here.

In the Heights

This blog is dedicated to education in film and TV, but the first post is actually about a musical.

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) met in Denver for its annual conference recently. While in Denver, I had the opportunity to see the Broadway musical In the Heights, which won 4 Tony Awards in 2008. The musical is about a group of people who live on a block in Washington Heights. Aside from the simply outstanding music, singing, and dancing, one of the sub-stories of the musical relates to higher education.

Nina, one of the main characters, is a high-achieving Latina who received a scholarship to attend Stanford. She returns to Washington Heights after her first year away at college. Her parents, friends, and others in the neighborhood had and continue to have high expectations for her- they expected her to go far and accomplish much. Through the songs, we learn that they are excited her return- to hear about her first year at Stanford was and to hear just how successful she was in college.

However, Nina returns to Washington Heights as a college dropout. Her scholarship did not cover all of her costs to attend college, and she took on two jobs to help pay for books and other expenses that she encountered. Her jobs left little time to study, and she dropped out of college four months before returning home for the summer. She has yet to tell her parents, and is anxious about letting them (and others in her community) down.

Her story is woven throughout the rest of the musical, with her parents learning that she dropped out and expressing their disappointment in her after all they sacrificed for her, to her father selling his business to help her return to college, and finally to her realizing that she can and should return to Stanford. Within this story, are the struggles that many families experience when their children go off to college as first-generation students, as well as students of color. Nina experiences push-pull factors that impact her college-related decisions- a scholarship that doesn't cover all expenses, expectations of others, her own disappointment in herself, the sacrifices her parents make...just to name a few.

The song Breathe tells of Nina's story and the struggles she experiences coming home after dropping out of college. Here is a sample of the lyrics:

I got every scholarship,
Saved every dollar,
The first to go to college,
How do I tell them why
I'm coming back home,
With my eyes on the horizon
Just me and the GWB, asking,
Gee Nina, What'll you be?

Straighten the spine.
Smile for the neighbors.
Everything's fine.
Everything's cool.
The standard reply,
"Lots of tests, lots of papers."
Smile, wave goodbye,
And pray to the sky, oh God...
And what will my parents say?

You can listen to Breathe in its entirety here.

Welcome!

The idea for this blog has been "marinating" for quite some time. We live in a world where youth draw upon electronic and popular media for much of their information, and where some classroom techniques and learning formats seem out of sync with their audience. In an effort to think about how to incorporate different mediums into the learning process, it seems logical to incorporate movies and television into the curriculum as tool for learning.

As a sociologist of education, and a self-proclaimed TV junkie, I am interested in what messages are communicated about education through film and TV- about the purpose of education, the role of teachers and students, how individuals and groups within schools are portrayed, race and gender relations, and so on. While there are literally hundreds of films and television shows about education, teachers, students, parents of students, I think there is much to learn about the messages that are communicated to us as an audience.

On one hand, this blog will help us understand and unpack those messages. On the other hand, education in film and TV can be seen as a tool for the classroom- to teach students about various aspects of education, but also to critique how education is portrayed. The majority of the blog will focus on education in film and TV, but at times (as with the first post), other mediums will be included (e.g., documentaries, music, and Broadway plays).

I hope you enjoy this site and find the information interesting. If you have ideas for films or television shows that you would like to see posted, please let me know (this includes possible guest posts).

I look forward to your comments and feedback!

Casey E. George-Jackson, Ph.D.
University of Illinois