Movie: “Dangerous Minds”

Running Time: + I hour 30 mins

Topic for Discussion: Teacher-Student Relationship, Effective Teacher, Classroom Rules

Synopsis:

When a retired U.S. Marine, LouAnne Johnson, arrives at Parkmont High School with poor, angry
minorities from East Palo Alto, California, she finds a class of tough, street-wise kids, involved in gangs
and drugs, whom Johnson quickly dubs the "rejects from hell." Her initially meek demeanor, small
stature, and white skin earn her the nickname "white bread" from her students. Determined to have
them trust and respect her, she quickly changes her presentation, wearing leather jackets, teaching
karate to her students and cursing in the classroom. Creating her own curriculum for her "socially
challenged" and extremely antagonistic class, she starts having them read poetry, using Bob Dylan lyrics
to teach symbolism. Johnson rewards her students for their hard work by giving them candy bars to say
good job, toy prizes and trip to a boardwalk theme park. Along with helping her students with school
work, she also provides emotional support to several students, including a couple of wise-cracking boys
who are too caught up in street politics for their own good, and a teen who's dealing with the reality of
being pregnant in high school. Although she intends to leave at the end of the year, the students quote
the lyrics of a Dylan Thomas poem that they learned and insist that she's their "light" and refuse to let
her leave. Touched, she agrees to stay.

Instruction:

As you watch the movie, please discuss (in 2s or 3s) and jot down the followings:

1. How did the teacher get the attention of her students?

2. What strategies did she use to establish rapport with her students?

3. What motivational strategies did she use to ensure students learning?

4. Which scene (event) depicts her as a caring teacher?

BE WARNED! Some of the conversations here contain f*** words. I hope you can bear with them as it
has not gone through the scissors of Malaysian Censorship Board

Dr. Wong Kiet Wah (Anna)

EDU 3104 Behaviour and Classroom Management