Aah the forever neglected school education system. Its almost criminal how media overlooks the state of schools and teachers despite the fact that they play such substantial role in every kid's life. Films are often made on legendary educators and coaches (like Monalisa Smile, Dead Poet's Society, Coach Carter or even School of Rock) but those are highly dramatic tales of teachers either in extraordinary situations or creating extraordinary situations. Films rarely capture the ground reality of an everyday teacher's humdrum life. Truth is that majority of teachers employed by the schools are just doing their work as a day job and they really don't have the bandwidth nor the energy to get past the classroom let alone give individual attention to the students. That's physically not possible in countries like India where there are 60-70 students per class. Teacher of the Year tells a grim reality of modern day school education, albeit with humor and kudos for that.
Teaching is a thankless job but it is also devoid of dignity these days. Stuck amidst bureaucracy and bad parenting, teachers are expected to keep their calm, be nurturing to their students and also be prepared to take the blame if anything goes wrong. The management's apathy towards teachers is heartbreaking, the mediocrity in classrooms is mind numbing, the nepotism for promotions and favours is deafening. "Are you here for the kids?" asks one teacher in the film. That question goes to all. Parents don't have time for their kids but they expect a teacher to mend their kids. Many parents come from a belief that since they pay the tuition fee, they've hired a patsy for their mistakes.
____________Some Spoilers Ahead_____________
Public school English teacher Mitch Carter is right in the middle of a big career shift as he finds it tough to decide whether he should keep at his low paying yet fulfilling job or should he move on to work in the interest of rich kids as a lobbyist for independent schools. "Basically everything that I've fought against" as Mitch puts it. The money they're offering is good. "Opportunities like these don't come by everyday" as Mitch's wife confesses with a bit of reluctance as she mentally prepares to adjust to new lifestyle. Mitch, his wife and his little daughter haven't lived a day apart but this new job will keep him travelling constantly. Common men are at times so worried to take such big steps. Its true, family comes first to good people but the economic realities of our times are worse than the proverbial devil. Mitch decides to take up the new job after an unfortunate incident involving his fellow teacher and the school management.
______________end of spoilers___________________
Despite the blatant reference to Spinal Tap, Teacher of the Year would never be remembered in the same way because unlike rocknroll and rock stars very few people care about public school system and teachers. Although it is my personal wish that this should be preserved by the academy much like Spinal Tap because this mockumentary talks about a subject in a time that is both massively relevant as well as deeply concerning. Just the way how Edge from U2 wept while watching Spinal Tap, my mom didn't laugh while watching Teacher of the Year. She's a high-school teacher for past 20 years. I don't need to say anymore.
Teaching is a thankless job but it is also devoid of dignity these days. Stuck amidst bureaucracy and bad parenting, teachers are expected to keep their calm, be nurturing to their students and also be prepared to take the blame if anything goes wrong. The management's apathy towards teachers is heartbreaking, the mediocrity in classrooms is mind numbing, the nepotism for promotions and favours is deafening. "Are you here for the kids?" asks one teacher in the film. That question goes to all. Parents don't have time for their kids but they expect a teacher to mend their kids. Many parents come from a belief that since they pay the tuition fee, they've hired a patsy for their mistakes.
____________Some Spoilers Ahead_____________
Public school English teacher Mitch Carter is right in the middle of a big career shift as he finds it tough to decide whether he should keep at his low paying yet fulfilling job or should he move on to work in the interest of rich kids as a lobbyist for independent schools. "Basically everything that I've fought against" as Mitch puts it. The money they're offering is good. "Opportunities like these don't come by everyday" as Mitch's wife confesses with a bit of reluctance as she mentally prepares to adjust to new lifestyle. Mitch, his wife and his little daughter haven't lived a day apart but this new job will keep him travelling constantly. Common men are at times so worried to take such big steps. Its true, family comes first to good people but the economic realities of our times are worse than the proverbial devil. Mitch decides to take up the new job after an unfortunate incident involving his fellow teacher and the school management.
______________end of spoilers___________________
Despite the blatant reference to Spinal Tap, Teacher of the Year would never be remembered in the same way because unlike rocknroll and rock stars very few people care about public school system and teachers. Although it is my personal wish that this should be preserved by the academy much like Spinal Tap because this mockumentary talks about a subject in a time that is both massively relevant as well as deeply concerning. Just the way how Edge from U2 wept while watching Spinal Tap, my mom didn't laugh while watching Teacher of the Year. She's a high-school teacher for past 20 years. I don't need to say anymore.