A thinly disguised advertisement for the charter school movement, "Waiting for 'Superman,'" which opens here today, blames teachers –and especially their unions–for most of the problems in American elementary and middle-school education and sings the praises of Geoffrey Canada and Michelle Rhee. Canada has an impressive record in helping Harlem youngsters, but Rhee's fulminating reign of terror in Washington, D.C., does not show a change in children's attitude or test results.
Davis Guggenheim, born in St. Louis and son of Oscar-winning director Charles Guggenheim, who made the wonderful Gateway Arch documentary, directed, co-wrote with Billy Kimball and often is the narrator, his tone of voice showing exactly whose side he is on, at least for this film. He took a different tack three years ago in "An Inconvenient Truth," the documentary featuring Al Gore and global warming, which won an Oscar for best documentary.
I was puzzled when no information was made available in terms of who or what organization provided the financing for a "documentary," which turned out to be so one-sided. In addition, it was surprising–even shocking–not to see a single public school teacher interviewed. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, is shown ranting at rallies and meetings, but she is not interviewed either.
There is no question but that the American educational system is in disarray, and that American children–and ultimately the nation–will be punished. But charter schools have not been the answer, and certainly not in St. Louis. Private companies have become rich with their political contacts and promises, but they show only a minimal success record. They are not a magic bullet. Neither are church-run schools.
Teachers' unions are an easy target because there are documented abuses. But Guggenheim, and the interests behind the movie, refuse to acknowledge that unions were organized in response to people like Rhee, to protect teachers from arbitrary attacks. It will be interesting to see what happens now that Rhee's main protector, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty of Washington, D.C., has lost a primary election to Vincent C. Gray, president of the city council and a Rhee opponent.
Guggenheim's film is a series of attacks, a set-up-the-straw-men-and-knock-'em-down approach, though there are some humorous clips of George Reeves in action from the 1952 TV series.
Toward the end, as Guggenheim moans over the plight of American school children, there is a series of scenes at lotteries for the few places available in some charter schools. It's like watching local news broadcasts on the days lottery-winners are chosen.
Waiting for "Superman" opens today at the Plaza Frontenac
—Joe
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One response
Who is superman? Education is soo important it has been cut. At most, teachers have their students for 7 hours a day for 180 days a year. They don’t have them 17 hours a day for that same 180 days and Teachers don’t have the students for 24 hours a day for 185 days a year. Teachers have students for 1,260 hours a year and teacher don’t have students for 7,500 hours a year. Teachers have students for less than 17% of their year and that has be cut, yet the teacher is solely responsible for that child’s life. A tremendous amount of education goes into these children in such a little amount of time. The politicians are placing so much focus on education because they cannot handle this type of focus. If the Politician had this focus this country would be in an uproar over all the transactions the people don’t see. The focus needs to change. A lot of teachers want to blame parents. I say parents don’t ask to work 2 and 3 jobs just to make ends meat while their hard earned money goes to support the weight of this world. If we were not supporting the weight of this world these parents would not drift and grow apart with their separate working lives and they would have more time with their children. So where should the Focus be? Perhaps it should be on the Political Pettiness that is going on with our government. The republicans and democrats can’t get things done because they are so rapped up in what they are getting from it. Main Street is constantly inundated with fears of poor education to keep the focus away from politics. I am in Georgia. Teachers here hear that we are the worst in the country. I went to Florida to visit a sick parent during the school year and guess what, Florida is hearing they are the worst in the country for education. Their teachers need to step up and do better. How many other state politicians are playing that same game? I have a great idea, LET’S PAY THE POLITICIAN BASED ON HOW THE ECONOMY IS DOING!!