Lean on Me

Quite a movie, i would.I personally enjoyed the movie as it portrayed a wide range of perspective on how an educator can make a different for his/her students.

Here's the synopsis that I've got from the Wikipedia :)

Lean On Me is based on a true story of a principal in a New Jersey high school, Eastside High. The Principal, Joe Clark, is hired in 1983 to run one of the worst schools in this state. His mission is to turn this crime, drug, and graffiti infested school around completely in one year’s time. Clark must bring order and peace to this school and must also bring up the learning level of the students so they can pass the state’s minimum basic skills test.

Joe Clark is a former Army drill instructor who uses tough discipline as a means of changing Eastside High School. His methods in doing so were very much controversial. He got the nick name of "Crazy Joe" Clark by using a bullhorn and a baseball bat within his school to terrorize and intimidate the students as well as the faculty. To his supporters this tactic was to be motivation for the students and teachers to do better. According to a Mississippi State University Memo dated back in March of 1996, it stated that within two years Eastside High was declared a model school by New Jersey’s governor and in 1986, Clark was named one of the nation’s 10 "Principals of Leadership".

One of the first things Joe Clark did to reform this school was expelling 300 minority students who he claimed were "educationally hopeless and overage underachievers, parasites, hoodlums, and drug pushers" (Education Digest, 1989). To make sure these now ex-students stayed out and could not return, Clark chained and locked the school doors from the inside. Clark demanded respect from not only his students but also with the faculty. If respect was not given Clark simply removed you from the school.

There are some differences between what happened in real life and how the director, John Avildsen, portrayed Joe Clark in the movie Lean On Me. In the movie Clark was able to raise the student test scores to a level that protected the school from being taken over by the state. In real life, Eastside High was never in a threat of a take over. Clark has claimed that during his first year as principal he doubled the test scores of the students, but according to the Education Digest, 1989, they state that there is no such evidence to support Clark’s claim of this. In fact, according to this article the scores of the students at Eastside High were the lowest in the state of New Jersey between the years of 1986 to 1988. It goes on to say that over these years the percentage of students who actually did pass was as low as 24.1%. The author of this article, Irwin Hyman, tries to uncover if the "Dirty Harry" tactics used by Clark are needed in situations like these. These stricter punishment strategies used by Clark were recognized and supported by President Reagan.

Another disturbing issue that critics bring up is that in the movie none of the students rebel against this principal who threatens them, locks them inside the school, embarrasses them in front of others, intimidates and bullies them. These same critics believe that in real life things could not have gone this smooth so quickly.

Finally, Joe Clark resigned as principal in 1990. The time he spent at Eastside High has made him quite popular. Since this time Clark has made the cover of Time magazine, been on 60 Minutes, The Phil Donahue Show, and ABC’s Nightline. He is also a nationally recognized speaker who travels across the country to speak on such topics as his life story.

1.What do you think of the movie in the term of entertainment value?
The display of an unexampled school was clearly shown to us. To most of us,maybe that kind of school does not exist but this movie have given us a wider perspective on the types of school and students that we may encounter in near future. The display of the almost real scenarios gives me a better understanding of disciplinary problems that may happen in an learning institution

2.How does it affect you as you are taking B.Ed TESL course now?

As a future teacher, this movie gives a great effect on me. It opens my mind about the real-world situation about schools and students that i might experience at its worse condition.With that,i will be more prepared in handling my students and definitely in achieving affective learning environment

3.How does it affect you if you relate the story in the movie to the teachers whom you know in the past?

Teachers in the past that i have known,many of them did not care much of the well-being of their students.They just teach and left the class,and their duty is accomplished. But there were few teachers of mine who were very much dedicated to the profession.These few teachers card about the well-being of their students and took high regard about their responsibility to the nation.


4.What kind of practical/theoretical lesson that you learned after viewing this movie?
From this movie,i learn that students can be very vulnerable and it all depends on the learning institute to bring the best out in them.Young students are easily influenced by peers and bad companies. Being an educator,i believe I should make effort in making my teaching environment to be comfortable for my learners n teach them with my heart and soul.

Watching this types of movie motivates me to be a very motivated educator in future. I believe i am exposed to good scenarios of learning institutions where i might be teaching in future. The school should be in a friendly yet comfortable condition for learning to take place. Other than that,educators should befriend their students and have a good relationship with students. With that,we will be able to help them improve themselves as we can expect them come to us willingly when they are in trouble,whether in books or life :)

I can't wait to start being a teacher and be an inspiring educator.