Waiting for Superman is a documentary by David Guggenheim, that speaks about the failure of the public-school system through the eyes of students, parents and various educators. In the movie, some controversies that were touched on were the lower performance, administrative bureaucracy, the achievement gap, teacher union, tenure and alternative schools such as charter schools. The director, Davis Guggenheim offers a one-sided view of the reason public schools are failing. Although there are many problems and reasons why public schools are failing, for example students not applying themselves, no parent participation and community involvement, the film only highlights bad teachers and unions. Throughout this film, it is highlighted that charter schools produce well educated children.
The main storyline follows five students that navigate the public-school system and interviews individuals that want to improve the educational system. The five students go through a lottery to be accepted into the charter school. The Huffington Post, critiqued the movie which shows teachers and teacher unions in a negative way. One of the ideas that is highlighted in the movie is one that teacher unions do not want to get rid of bad teachers. When there are peer-reviews of teachers, which are checked by union members, observing and writing reports, and getting teacher improvement plans in place, more teachers are removed based on peer-review than when administrators do it. Another view that is stressed in the movie is the perception of teachers, saying the pay is low, and it’s a women’s profession. Having a view like this keeps talented and interested people, out of the profession. A third teachers who start in the profession quit in the first few years because of frustration.
Within the film, it is talked about the way to fix what is going on in the public educational system, is to be in a smaller, structured setting that focuses on student achievement which is a charter school. Public schools are shown to be holding students back and are destroying their futures instead of help creating them. The movie also suggests that because schools hold on to bad teachers, the education that students receive is mediocre. With charter schools, they can hire non- union teachers and receive public money, but are not subject to the rules and regulations of public schools. To be admitted into a charter school, they normally rely on a lottery. The film highlights the plight of five students who are determined to get into the charter schools. Just like any school you highlight your best and down play the bad. Instead of speaking directly to teachers and administrators that work with the students, and experience them daily, individuals who have no experience and observe from the outside make movies and blame others. Charter schools may be able to offer a better education for some students, but if public schools are given the resources and supplies needed they will be able to succeed. To combat poverty, joblessness and community stability it is important that schools receive the educational and social service support needed.
With the United States at the near bottom of advanced countries in math and reading scores, are problems are systematic. A seventh of our citizens live in poverty, many African Americans form an underclass, that the nuclear family has left many children with only one parent. Within our society, the culture of instant gratification convinces students that studying is boring and being a pro-athlete or a rap star is worth pursuing. This movie title “Waiting for Superman”, suggests that a super hero would be able to fix the problems of the community. Watching a film that puts the blame on teachers solely is very difficult as an educator. Just like raising children it takes a village to work together to build an all-around student. By putting the blame just on the teacher is unfair, since the teacher presents and teaches the information, it is the parents responsibility to help reinforce what is learned. It is also parent’s responsibility to make sure students come to school prepared with the necessary supplies and are ready to learn.
References
Ayers, Rick “What Superman Got Wrong. Point by Point.” The Washington Post, 27Sept. 2010. Web 24 Feb. 2013
Corliss, Richard,” Waiting for Superman: Are Teachers the Problem? The Time, 29 1sept 2010.
Orci, A. (2011, January 1). Wanted: Supermen and Superwomen: Waiting for Superman Portrays an Unrealistic View of the Nation's Public Schools. District Administration.
Gabriel, T. (2010, September 18). Remedial Study for Failing Public Schools. Retrieved March 05, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/movies/19superman.html
Bruhn, M. (2014). Challenging “Waiting for Superman”. Phi Delta Kappan, 95(5), 47-51. doi:10.1177/003172171409500511
