Teaching can often be a thankless profession, but there are some movies that capture education and it’s challenges brilliantly. Here are some movies that will help you keep working away at your education to become a teacher. Or, for our non-education majors, to remind you to thank your professors!
1. Matilda, based on the book of the same name by Roald Dahl, is a childhood classic with valuable lessons about education. Matilda’s love for reading and raw intelligence get the attention of her teacher, Miss Honey, and their student-teacher relationship transforms into an incredible friendship by the end of the film.
2. If you’ve been looking for a movie about a kick-butt feminist professor, Mona Lisa Smile is it. Starring Julia Roberts, Mona Lisa Smile is about a progressive art history professor at Wellesley College that teaches her students about the value of educating females. This clip shows the professor’s lecture to her students on gender roles and education.
3. Okay, okay. So technically Denzel Washington and Will Patton play coaches in this film, but their roles are very similar to teachers. Remember the Titans is a movie you’ve probably seen before, but it never hurts to give it a second (or fiftieth) watch.
4. Denzel Washington is destined to play characters that inspire students and teams, which he proves in The Great Debaters. Washington plays a debate coach that helps his students excel regardless of race, a timeless lesson.
5. Akeelah and the Bee stars a young Keke Palmer, who is motivated by a local spelling coach to take her talent for spelling to the National Spelling Bee. Dr. Larabee and Akeelah’s relationship goes through many changes throughout the film, and becomes one of trust and honesty. Check out this clip, and if you haven’t seen the whole fim, give it a watch! The socioeconomic dynamics in the film are especially helpful for teachers working in urban school systems.
6. When Jack Black steps in as a substitute teacher, the class is in for a real treat. School of Rock is a movie for music educators, an underappreciated profession for sure. Despite the fact that Black’s job as a substitute teacher is an accident, he gives a class of fourth graders the skills and confidence to compete in a Battle of the Bands.
7. Freedom Writers is a perfect example of the many non-academic challenges a teacher faces. Erin Gruwell, played by Hilary Swank, has the responsibility of teaching students who are unwanted by other teachers, in addition to the many racial and violent issues in the community. Gruwell is tested by her coworkers and students, but finds a way to educate them all.
8. Mean Girls. Don’t roll your eyes at this one just yet, because there is an awesome teacher in this quotable movie. Tina Fey plays Ms. Norbury, the teacher who handles the entire “burn book” situation and gives the female students a lesson about respecting each other. Not only does Tina Fey play an important part in the film, she wrote the script, too! And you can tell, because Mean Girls is totally fetch. Check out Ms. Norbury’s speech to her female students.
9. Who says education can’t take place in a dance studio? Billy Eliot is about a young boy that falls in love with ballet. With the help of his dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, he pursues his dream of becoming a professional dancer despite gender stereotypes. There is also a great stage version of the movie that is worth watching!
10. I’ve saved the best for last… Dead Poets Society, starring Robin Williams, should be a required movie for anyone going into the education field. Williams plays John Keating, an unconventional English teacher at an all-boys school. Dead Poets Society is worth watching for the first few scenes alone, but just wait until the last scene. #ohcaptainmycaptain