The First Year
5 Teachers. 180 Days. Our Children's Future.
Winner of numerous awards including the prestigious Peabody, this powerful and moving film is a "must-see" for anyone who is, or has ever thought of becoming a parent or teacher. The film chronicles the first year of five young teachers as they fight the real fight: educating our children, one child at a time. From acclaimed filmmaker David Guggenheim, The First Year cuts through the education rhetoric and shows the human side of the story, revealing all the determination and commitment it takes to survive in America's toughest schools.
From kindergarten teacher Maurice, who refuses to give up as he fights to help a boy with speech problems, to Genevieve, who "wanted to teach kids no one else wanted to teach," the men, women, and children profiled in this film are sure to inspire and provoke debate. Intense and emotional, The First Year cuts through the education rhetoric and reminds us what is real: the powerful relationship between teacher and student.
Member Reviews
Beautiful Documentary About School Teachers - eoguy
Most kids tend to adopt a weak sense of hatred for their school teachers -- because they make them do homework, discipline them and try to guide them during their rebellious years. Somewhere along the way "those who can't do, teach" became a popular saying.
For me, after graduation, when my life moved on, those teachers began to take on a new identity in my mind. They were the people who inspired me, created memories and helped me realize who I wanted to be. The First Year manages to capture the spirit of a group of young teachers -- the ones who struggle to help their elementary and high school kids see the world critically, and realize their own potential.
We follow the students and teachers through the 1999/2000 high school year. The story focuses on students who aren't receiving enough attention from the school board, and the faculty members who champion those minority interests.
While the film only skims the surface of these lives of these individual students and teachers, the film offers some truly emotional and inspiring moments. It brought back some tearful memories for me, rememberying myself as a child in elementary school, and helped me to realize how my own teachers helped shape my life.
The PBS documentary isn't as in-depth as it could've been with a longer running time, but it's definitely worth a look. Whether you were an A+ or a D- student, this movie will connect with you.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Beautiful Documentary About School Teachers - eoguy
Most kids tend to adopt a weak sense of hatred for their school teachers -- because they make them do homework, discipline them and try to guide them during their rebellious years. Somewhere along the way "those who can't do, teach" became a popular saying.
For ...