Waiting For Superman

Waiting For Superman

Every now and then I’ll get an opportunity to see a documentary film. I have a few in my collection. I mostly rely on PBS for my viewing. Last year I added Waiting For Superman to my collection, and I finally made time to view it.

Education is very important to me especially the child development years, which was the films focus. I often think about my education and which teachers made an impact. There are three teachers that stand out during my elementary school years. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ruth, my reading teacher, Mrs. Dumas and my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Falls. Other than that I don’t recall any of my other teachers. There was a substitute teacher, Mrs. Rondino. She didn’t look like the other teachers. She was very attractive and I remember the short dresses she used to wear.

Waiting For Superman is about the education system in the U.S. It’s focus is on the public school system and the changes that have been made over time.
As a kid I enjoyed going to school. Sometimes I would talk in class. Sometimes I was the clown. I guess I was bored and didn’t always pay attention. I used to wonder why I needed to know some of the stuff that they were teaching. I was fighting the system at an early age. Every test I took should that I would grown up to be involved in the arts. I wasn’t clear as to what that meant, but its not what I wanted to do. I was however, drawing at an early age.

Every parent wants a better life for their kid. A dedicated parent will do whatever is necessary.
Waiting For Superman takes us through the lives of several elementary aged kids and their families. The kids all seem to be focused with big dreams and are intelligent despite where they live.
Today parents participate in lotteries to get their kids into the schools that are having the best impact on educating young people.
Waiting For Superman made me think about how we are not all created equal. Some of us are born with silver spoons and some with no spoon at all.
The film also looks at the system of teachers and how hard it is to find a good teacher. There are people in positions that aren’t equipped to teach the children of today. As time changes so do teaching methods. In other fields, those that can’t, teach. What do teachers do? If they are not good at their jobs? Once a teacher meets tenure they can just sit back and glide along. They are taking up space. What type of example is that?

When I went to Junior High School, I attended parochial school. I remember the principal only because his daughter was in my class. I don’t recall any of the nuns, but I do remember Father Spears and Brother Kenneth. Perhaps I remember him because if you did anything wrong he used to beat you in front of everyone in class.

If you are interested in education or enjoy documentaries, I highly recommend this film. If you are a parent you should see this film. You’ll want to get involved if you aren’t already involved. There are so many people that don’t read at the level that they should. We are living in a time where kids are texting in a new version of short hand. They don’t write enough or read enough to stay current. We have to remember how we used to do things because the technological age isn’t fool proof.
Learning needs to be fun and teachers sometimes need to think outside of the box.

Note: I remember all of my high school teachers. They were very influential in the person I am today.
I only remember one teacher from college and I think that’s because he gave me such a hard time.
As I mentioned every test I took said I would be involved in the arts. In 2001, I declared myself an artist, but before that I was writing, performing, directing, drawing, designing, taking pictures and producing fashion shows. I guess the tests were right.




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