And the question is: What's the matter with Public Education today?

First off, regarding my "cons" comment: I know, foul language is an everyday thing in the lives of the type of kids this movie is about. I choose not to expose our children to it. No, they do not hear it at school. First indication I get they do, they're out of there and I'll teach them myself. Ok, enough about that.

This movie made me so sad. I know that there really are kids like this, who are so far out of the mainstream that only extreme measures will get them back. There are teachers who are willing to do whatever it takes to reach them.

Unfortunately, the people calling the shots must have their rules, which are not always based on reality, but on their vision of what reality should be.

I never would have chosen to watch DANGEROUS MINDS on my own. The rap music soundtrack has almost always been a signal to me that the movie subject is not one I would care to endure. My husband, however, likes rap music. He likes movies like "Dead Presidents" and "Colors", so we borrowed it from his brother and watched it Friday night while the kids were on a sleepover.

I was totally expecting to hate this movie, however, I was pleasantly surprised. I could not identify with the kids at all. But I could identify with Michelle Pfeiffer's character, even though I'm not a teacher. The idiocy of bureaucracy frustrates me, just as it does her. I love her "you tell me I can't do it this way, I am therefore going to do it anyway" attitude.

Not that I'm one for breaking rules just because they're there; good rules, good law is necessary to a functional society.

Bad rules and bad laws - made by people who do not have a clue about the reality of the situation they're making the rules to govern - need to be changed. This teacher (forgive me for not remembering the character's name, I'm bad at that) was working, in her own way, towards changing bad rules. I didn't agree with all of her methods, but her heart was heavy with love for these kids. I was touched.




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age