Originally Published October 20, 2010 in labeez.org
http://www.labeez.org/2010/10/superman-trailer-deserves-an-f.php
‘Superman’ Trailer Deserves an F
by Oliver Williams
The most disturbing things about the trailer for the hit documentary ‘Waiting For Superman’ are the two quotes that seem to define the helpless attitude that permeates throughout the one sided commercial. The first quote comes from an unnamed school employee who comments on the disproportionate dropout rate at his school of employment: “This is the damage that this school has done to this neighborhood.”
The statement to me as an educator, is indicative of a sense of entitlement that has spread throughout public education like a plague. Whether it is students, parents, or teachers, it seems that many feel that their school owes them something. While the dropout rates that were mentioned are truly staggering, one cannot help but wonder if the damage was in fact done to the community by the school, or rather to the school by the community. Schools are supposed to be community centers where people can go to be safe and learn. The community is not entitled to a great school, but rather it must work together to create one. By supporting education and becoming actively involved in the happenings at the school, a community can truly take ownership of their school, and then will reap what it has sown.
While this is obviously a difficult task for any community, given the economic vagaries that have necessitated longer work hours, it is something that needs to happen. The fate of future generations rests in the efforts of communities, and without action, there can be no gains.
The other disturbing quote in the trailer for ‘Waiting For Superman’ was by Michelle Rhee, the Chancellor of the DC Public School System. She clearly states that “kids are getting a really crappy education”, and then goes on to drive the point home, saying “Oh I don’t think they are, I know they are.”
Rhee’s comments do nothing to fix the problem, and while her no-nonsense, tough as nails attitude has been prominently featured on Oprah as of late, her comments demean and dismiss the efforts of countless public educators who truly care about their students. Though her tough façade makes for good drama in a film or on a talk show, it also has severe repercussions for the hard working teachers who she carelessly throws under the bus in order to get a good sound byte.
Were I under the employ of Rhee, I would certainly not appreciate having my boss tell the world that my students were getting a “crappy education”. I can only imagine the sentiments of the Washington DC public school teachers, who have been very publicly insulted by the thoughtless comments of Rhee. For someone in such a high position in the field of education, she is certainly not setting a very good example for students to follow in regards to tact, manners, and thoughtfulness.
That the trailer for the documentary would contain such incendiary remarks is truly indicative of the bias that will inevitably follow throughout the film. The only solace one can take is that most documentaries are far from objective, and this one is no different. The problem with this, however, is that real, working class public school teachers are being hung out to dry in favor of good drama and storytelling. The victims of the rhetoric of Michelle Rhee and other school employees who are featured in the trailer must wake up every morning and do their best as a teacher, in an environment that is growing increasingly hostile to public education and to public school teachers.
Education in the United States is certainly in need of reform, but attacking public school teachers while feeling entitled to a great education is not the way to go effecting change. When real leaders can capture the attention of the community in order to rationally discuss the changes that are needed in education, then we can expect things to change for the better.
Until then, we’ll have to settle for hurtful rhetoric, biased documentaries, and more of the same.
