Teachers (1984)

Nick Nolte: Alex Jurel

Photos 

Quotes 

• Diane : [Jurel has taken Diane to have an abortion]  Listen, can I bum a cigarette?

  Alex Jurel : Diane, look, I don't think...

  Diane : [interrupting]  Mr. Jurel, I just had an abortion. I think I'm old enough to smoke.

• Alex Jurel : [determined]  I'm not going to resign, Roger.

  Dr. Donna Burke : [angry]  You're finished! You're out!

  Alex Jurel : Ah hell, Burke! I'm going to tell you something. I haven't even started! If you try and fire me, I'm going to be suing you.

  Roger Rubell : What's that going to solve, Alex?

  Alex Jurel : I don't know, Roger - let's try and find out. The damn school wasn't built for us, Roger. I wasn't built for your unions, your lawyers and all your other institutions. It was built for the kids! They're not here for us, we're here for them. That's what it's about: kids!

  Roger Rubell : Alex, half of them aren't even coming back after the alarm.

  Alex Jurel : But half will. I think they're worth it.

  [kids cheer him] 

  Dr. Donna Burke : Jurel! You're crazy, you know that?

  Alex Jurel : What can I say? I'm a teacher!

  [grins at the kids] 

  Alex Jurel : I'm a teacher!

• Lisa : [Lisa has just handed Alex a subpoena while he is in the men's room] 

  Lisa : It really is good to see you, Mr. Jurel.

  Alex Jurel : Considering how much you've seen, who don't you call me Alex?

• Dr. Donna Burke : We, the board members present, think that you should tender your resignation.

  Alex Jurel : My resignation? What for?

  Dr. Donna Burke : Because, Mr. Jurel, no one here wants to go through the pain of firing you.

• Alex Jurel : [to his class]  All right, if you're not here, speak up.

  [the class laughs] 

• Alex Jurel : There's nothing worse than a female lawyer with a cause.

  Lisa : Except a male teacher without one.

• Dr. Donna Burke : Mr. Jurel, do you know a student named Diane Warren? Is that true that you took Diane Warren, 16 year old student, to the free clinic to have an abortion? The abortion was performed without parental consent.

  Alex Jurel : [facing Roger]  Roger?

  Dr. Donna Burke : I'm waiting for your answer!

  Alex Jurel : [facing Roger]  Roger? Come on, Roger! Talk to me!

  Dr. Donna Burke : Do you think that this is proper conduct for a teacher?

  Alex Jurel : Well, it's a hell of a lot better conduct than the teacher who got her pregnant!

  Dr. Donna Burke : And what was his name?

• Roger Revel : You're not gonna betray ol' JFK, are ya?

  Alex Jurel : Aw, come on, for Christ's sake, Roger! That'd be like shitting on the Peace Corps! You haven't lived 'till you see them try to serve me with a subpoena.