49- films

Our section did not get to finish our film due to the fact that certain main characters were absent. Although we did not finish, the message was uncommon in the teacher/ savior unit because the teacher in our film really didn't save anyone. The students (protagonists) took their future and learning into their own hands since the teacher would not help them. The teacher was a jerk who played favorites and messed with the protagonists not caring that they were failing his class. He thought that they were failures and there was nothing for him to do to change it. Alex the protagonist, became very pissed and continuously walked out of class. After a confrontation in the lunch room with Casey (the favored student) Alex decides to take matters into her own hands and to actually form a study group with her friends to pass the up coming test. The teacher is very surprised to find that Alex and her friends have passed and is convinced they cheated so he made them retake the test. After the second time they passed the principle comes and congratulates the students and tells them how lucky and how grateful they should
be to have such an excellent teacher. Alex and her friends decide not to correct him and just walk away.

The odd thing was this probably would have been a really good video, especially since it was different. The teacher really had no part in effecting the lives of Alex's group. Instead they finally got their act together thanks to Casey who talks to them about how they don't have their lives in order. She was a snob but still had the resulting effect of causing a change which is usually the part the teacher plays. But we only actually completed one scene. Then some clips here and there. In the play I was the teacher's pet Casey. In the scene we did I was supposed to correct Alex's mistake and I stood her up (not sure right term) making my self seem so much better then her especially since the teacher favored me. The teacher besides hassling Alex always points out her lack of knowledge and shows it to the class by making her put up answers on the board that he knows she did not get right. This is where I would come in and correct it. But the basic key fact is that students do not always need to be saved by someone of higher authority like a teacher. Alex took it into her own hands to become so much better then what she was.

The tone through out the play changed as the protagonist changed her opinion on herself and how she wanted her life to go. In the beginning it was more aggressive and always constant fights between her and the teacher. Then towards the middle it was more calmed down since Alex decided not to be brought into the teachers of joy of making her feel stupid. Then at the end there was happiness and achievement since Alex passed the test and confounded the teacher. And I think it pleased her to know that he never changes by taking her achievement onto his own self teaching. Nothing in him changed and she would allow it to stay like that. She could move on and not be effected by him anymore but to know that the one who really learned something about life was herself and her teacher was still stuck in the same disillusion as when the video started.

Through out the different videos we have seen about the teacher/ savior theme and how we perceive schools in our culture there are many differences and similarities between them. In the films it was clear that the teacher was the saviour and that the students were in such bad shape they didn't think they needed to be saved but soon warmed up to the teacher and came to resolutions where the students are able to raise above any challenge. Now in life we see little of this actually happening. Yes the teacher might think they are superior and are there for the benefit of saving the students from themselves. But when does this ever result in every single one of the students being saved and where the teacher actually knows anything to help them. In my experience you can not save everyone no matter how hard you try. You can think to yourself "o if i only did this or this", or "if I keep trying, I know I will help". Sorry but the world doesn't work that way. Not saying there arent teachers out there that dont help students. I know in SOF at least most of the teachers want to actually help and learn from us. There is a real community between the teachers and students like those in the movie. But unlike the movie there is no concrete problem where the teacher can save the students and its a happy ending. It just so happens that the teachers touch some of their students lives and they are better off for it while with others they tried but the student decided to turn their back on it. So in conclusion there is no real significant savior role in the lives of students at schools. No matter how much the teacher thinks so.