Our class spent two Monday evening Educational Psychology meetings watching the movie "Lions For Lambs". This movie included many different valid points and arguments in repect to politics, teaching, the media, and many more areas. It showed challenges faced by different job positions and how the individual decided to deal with these challenges. There were a few scenarios in the movie that inter-linked.
First there were the scenes with the Political Science professor talking to the "under-achieving" student who slowly decided not to show up to class. The two characters talked about many different issues reguarding how the student's potential was there, but the will was being lost. I found it interesting how the professor laid out a proposition to him: he could leave the office and never return to class and receive a B in the class, or show up. The professor was not stupid in doing this, because he knew of the student's unique potential in the subject and that it was just up to him whether he would waste that potential, or use it. I also thought the professor was a great example of a "great" teacher, because he noticed the change in the student and was passionate enough about the student's potential to have a meeting with him and drill him about his intentions in life. He did not want to tell the student what to do, he just wanted him to be aware of his options and the consequences of "living the good life".
That same professor links to another part of the story which involves two former students of his who were also exceptional in his class years before. Not knowing what would come of it, the professor encouraged the two students in their debate reguarding going in to the U.S. Army. The two students shocked the class by showing them their acceptance letters into the army. At this the professor felt like he accidently pushed the students into it, but they reassured him that it was their own decision to join. I remember a part where the professor said, "How could you do this to yourselves?" and they replied, "How could we not?" That stuck with me because it shows just how strong patriotism means to them, and how much it should mean to other Americans.
Finally, the last link is from these army soldiers to a senator who is being interviewed by a top news reporter. This senator is explaining how they had sent a helicopter of soldiers to claim a spot crucial for attaining a victory to boost America's spirit in the war. This news reporter and senator clearly disagree with most being discussed, but the senator manages to reach the reporter, making her re-think her position for reporting it. I found it interesting that the reporter changed just throughout that period. The movie ended with the two army soldiers getting shot just before help came and the underachieving student making the right choice about his future.
This movie reflects many great points for how to teach, why we teach, what makes good teachers, and the mission of education. When asked during the lecture what makes a good teacher, I responded, "A good teacher helps or guides their students to be the best version of themselves" and that's exactly what I felt like the professor was doing in this movie.
First there were the scenes with the Political Science professor talking to the "under-achieving" student who slowly decided not to show up to class. The two characters talked about many different issues reguarding how the student's potential was there, but the will was being lost. I found it interesting how the professor laid out a proposition to him: he could leave the office and never return to class and receive a B in the class, or show up. The professor was not stupid in doing this, because he knew of the student's unique potential in the subject and that it was just up to him whether he would waste that potential, or use it. I also thought the professor was a great example of a "great" teacher, because he noticed the change in the student and was passionate enough about the student's potential to have a meeting with him and drill him about his intentions in life. He did not want to tell the student what to do, he just wanted him to be aware of his options and the consequences of "living the good life".
That same professor links to another part of the story which involves two former students of his who were also exceptional in his class years before. Not knowing what would come of it, the professor encouraged the two students in their debate reguarding going in to the U.S. Army. The two students shocked the class by showing them their acceptance letters into the army. At this the professor felt like he accidently pushed the students into it, but they reassured him that it was their own decision to join. I remember a part where the professor said, "How could you do this to yourselves?" and they replied, "How could we not?" That stuck with me because it shows just how strong patriotism means to them, and how much it should mean to other Americans.
Finally, the last link is from these army soldiers to a senator who is being interviewed by a top news reporter. This senator is explaining how they had sent a helicopter of soldiers to claim a spot crucial for attaining a victory to boost America's spirit in the war. This news reporter and senator clearly disagree with most being discussed, but the senator manages to reach the reporter, making her re-think her position for reporting it. I found it interesting that the reporter changed just throughout that period. The movie ended with the two army soldiers getting shot just before help came and the underachieving student making the right choice about his future.
This movie reflects many great points for how to teach, why we teach, what makes good teachers, and the mission of education. When asked during the lecture what makes a good teacher, I responded, "A good teacher helps or guides their students to be the best version of themselves" and that's exactly what I felt like the professor was doing in this movie.
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