Comments on: Scott Thornbury's Six great films about teaching

By: Teresa Bestwick

Teresa Bestwick — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:05:11 +0000

“Etre et Avoir” – that’s the first film I watched in the cinema with my partner! (We were studying French cinema at the time…not really a first date kind of film!)

By: mkmoylan

mkmoylan — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:59:31 +0000

Does anyone remember a 1974 film called ‘Conrack’? It starred Jon Voight and was directed by Martin Ritt.
I remember being knocked out when I saw it on TV, but that was also a long time ago and I’m not sure what I’d think now. All the performances were worth it though – and based on real events.

By: lclandfield

lclandfield — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:58:57 +0000

Never too late. Thanks for dropping by, and the comment! I have never seen To Sir with Love. The throwing out the textbooks though does seem to be a recurring feature in films about teachers and teaching!

By: Miguel Bengoa

Miguel Bengoa — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:44:47 +0000

I hope that this post is still open for commenting, but my personal favourite has to be “To Sir, with Love” with Sidney Poitier. To quote the Wikipedia entry, and without scruples:

“Thackeray (Poitier) (…) will treat them as adults, and allow them to decide what topics they wish to study. He emphasizes this by throwing out all the textbooks, (…).”

I have not seen the film for decades, and I DO know that it is a film, but I would love Thackery to be MY teacher trainer – even after 18 years of teaching.

By: Miracel

Miracel — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:45:05 +0000

My personal favorite of all time is The Emperor’s Club by Kevin Kline. It’s an inspiring movie which tackles moral issues like cheating. The movie has a lot of quotable quotes on success, failure and contribution.

By: List #66 « Six Things

List #66 « Six Things — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:31:06 +0000

[...] Scott Thornbury’s Six Great Films about Teaching [...]

By: Six people who would make great English teachers « Six Things

Six people who would make great English teachers « Six Things — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:19:47 +0000

[...] and actor - Despite Scott Thornbury’s comments about Dead Poet’s Society (see them here), I still have a soft spot for Robin Williams as an English teacher. He would get the intermediate [...]

By: clive booth

clive booth — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:25:05 +0000

thanks again… a beautiful film

By: clive booth

clive booth — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:24:35 +0000

Être et avoir…. what a film. Thanks for helping me find it (and the title). p.s: I found your site by googling for “great french teaching film” or sommat like that )

By: Troy

Troy — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:11:21 +0000

Can’t say that I have a movie to add, but I can say that after reading this post, I ‘came across’ Blackboards on the net and it is fantastic. Simply the image of these guys with typical baggy Kurdish trousers hiking up mountains with blackboards strapped to their backs makes my pre-teen class tomorrow seem at least bearable.