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January 20, 2007
Classroom Distinctions
A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog entry explaining why I don't like movies about teaching, but a recent NYT editorial, responding to the upcoming release of Freedom Writers, articulates the problem with these films far better than I did. In the editorial Tom Moore describes what he calls "The Myth of the Great Teacher," and I think he's right to criticize the film for portraying teachers as missionaries rather than professionals, willing to sacrifice themselves (and even financial compensation) for the sake of education. Not much to add here. I'm mostly blogging as a form of procrastination from the writing I ought to be doing.
Posted by chuck at January 20, 2007 11:28 AM
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Comments
Articles like this, which we might call opinion pieces about movie subjects from "experts," represent some of the best film writing in the Times. So why are these pieces, which originate in the Opinions section, never cross-filed under Movies?
Posted by: Andy Horbal at January 22, 2007 10:34 AM
Good question. I only noticed the article because it was in the "most blogged" list on the NYT sidebar. And I only cared about the article because it happens to be about my chosen profession.
Posted by: Chuck at January 22, 2007 11:02 AM