teach - TakePart

TEACHQuestions for Further DiscussionIn addition to, or in lieu of, the more formal after viewing activities outlined above, use someor all of the following questions to facilitate an after viewing discussion about the film:• What was surprising about the film? What was expected?• Do you think these four teachers are a representative sampling of the profession?Why or why not?• The director stated that he made careful choices regarding how to portray the “yearin-the-life”of a teacher in his documentary. What was behind his strategy? What doyou think he left out in order to simplify his depiction?• How does viewing TEACH change any preconceived notions you may have had aboutthe nuts and bolts of the teaching profession?• How did each teacher show perseverance? What about the featured students? Canperseverance, especially in regards to one’s own learning, be taught? Or is it aninnate characteristic?• How well did the filmmakers show the trials and tribulations of the teachingprofession?• It is estimated that billions of dollars are lost each year when promising teachersdecide to quit the profession. How might we improve our system of recruiting andretaining teachers?• In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states that it takes 10,000 hours practicinga specific task to truly become an expert in one’s field. This would translate to6-7 years of on-the-job training hours for a teacher. Yet statistics show that nearly50% of teachers quit within the first 5 years of teaching. Have you noticed thisphenomenon in your local schools? What impact do you think this has on yourchildren’s education and on your community at large? What do you think your schooldistrict, PTA, school administration, or parent community could do that wouldincrease the likelihood of great teachers remaining in the profession?• Teaching is sometimes referred to as a “noble” profession. Wayne Dyer definesnobility as “…not about being better than anyone else- it’s about being better thanyou used to be.” How did each teacher become “better than [he or she] used to be” bythe end of the school year?PAGE 10• What does the documentary tell us about the challenges and benefits of innovativeteaching methods?