The amount of time spent in classrooms as children is quite staggering when reflected upon in adulthood. School can evoke floods of different emotions and open old wounds. It can bring about a longing for more innocent and simplistic times, and for years it is our main source of socialisation outside of the home. Away from parents and domestic spheres for the majority of each week leaves students in the capable hands of their teachers. These educators can have a profound impact on their pupils, perhaps more so than they are given credit for. What better way to commend this oft-underappreciated profession by giving a toast to some of the most iconic teachers in contemporary cinema?
Miss Honey, Matilda
Danny DeVito’s Matilda is a tale known by most of a mistreated intelligent young girl who realises she has telekinetic powers, using them to protect herself and her friends from the hurtful adults in her life. Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) is arguably one of the most celebrated teachers in both literature and cinema and Davidtz plays her with enough sweetness and sincerity to melt even Miss Trunchball’s (Pam Ferris) heart.
Although she is very intelligent and always seems to have her head in a book, Matilda’s parents don’t want her to go to school. Not being academically gifted themselves, they see both Matilda and Miss Honey’s intelligence as a threat, perhaps due to Mr Wormwood’s (Danny DeVito) reliance on “suckers” as a dodgy car salesman. By recognising Matilda’s potential and believing in her ability, she sets her free from her domestic hell-loop, and brings to life all the inspirational lessons Matilda has learnt from her reading. The relationship between Matilda and Miss Honey is even more meaningful when you realize the impact they have on each other’s lives is mutual — thanks to Matilda, Miss Honey finds the courage to stand up to Miss Trunchball, who has tormented her since she was young.
Miss Honey, having experienced Miss Trunchball’s wrath throughout her own childhood, is a crutch for all those she teaches, but her sheer wonder at Matilda’s intelligence followed by the realisation of her damaging home life is what deems her as the more pure and caring primary school teacher, and eventual new (and much better) guardian of Matilda.
John Keating, Dead Poets Society
In Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams portrays a charismatic English teacher at Welton boarding school for boys, known by students past (Keating himself an alumnus) and present as “Hellton.” Needless to say, the level of discipline is truly harsh, and teaching style is steeped in tradition, repetition and sternness. Other teaching staff deny that the boys are old enough to think for themselves, but Keating’s unconventional methods encourage them to gain perspective, to think beyond the confines of the classroom. Members of the faculty grow weary of Keating’s approach and teachings, while the group of young men appear more liberated than ever, gaining confidence and learning the value of creative expression through poetry, music and acting (in Neil’s case). “Carpe diem, my boys,” Keating repeats, utilising his own lived experience in hopes that his students will find their voice and follow the path that they want to, not the career path seemingly assigned to them at birth by their strict parents.
The film itself is a love letter to inspiration, to raising young spirits instead of crushing them — the latter a method that unfortunately not all teenagers seem to survive. The final scene, in which Keating collects his possessions and the boys all jump on their desks to recite Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain” to pay him respect, encapsulates just how much value Keating has shed light on in his students’ lives.
Dewey Finn / Ned Schneebly, School of Rock
Jack Black’s character in Richard Linklater’s musical/comedy is an honourable mention that couldn’t be avoided for its sheer originality and punk energy. Arguably one of the most hilarious and timeless films set in a school for its absurdity, soundtrack and, of course, Jack Black’s electrifying portrayal of “Mr. S” — as he is known by his students — is one for the ages. Black plays Dewey Finn, a broke musician in need of a new gig who, after getting kicked out of his own band, pretends to be his roommate Ned (Mike White, the writer of the film) and takes over his covering of a class in a prestigious prep school.
Albeit the least conventional teacher on this list — and in actuality, far from being a proper teacher at all — Mr. S is able to get through to his pupils in ways that their regimented private school is seriously lacking. Sure, he sneaks them off site on secret trips and doesn’t teach them anything from the syllabus, but he encourages them to celebrate music for all its worth, and helps the likes of Lawrence (Robert Tsai) and Tamika (Maryam Hassan) fight their self confidence and self images issues, and to take pride in their ability. Sometimes a collaborative approach is more fruitful than one of authority.
Mr. Anderson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the most celebrated coming-of-age films from recent years, in which Charlie (Logan Lerman) starts high school after losing a close friend to suicide and spending time out of education due to bad mental health. Charlie, an avid reader, finds a friend in Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) — even though he doesn’t like to admit it, as becoming friends with your English teacher would be “depressing” — in his Advanced English class, and Mr. Anderson calls Charlie out for his lack of participation.
With Charlie’s father (Dylan McDermott) being an emotionally distant figure, Mr. Anderson inspires Charlie with advice, guidance and good book recommendations. Aware of the rough time he has had, he makes an effort to check in on him and gives him extra reading, going so far as to give him his personal copy of his favorite book when he was Charlie’s age. Their bond may seem simple, but the consistency of their relationship is beneficial for Charlie and his emotional instability.
Seeing these relationships develop in environments we know all too well immortalised on screen is truly touching, and acts as a beacon of light and support perhaps to those who feel that their experiences in education were severely lacking in these encounters. School days may indeed be in the past, but the wise words of these characters are, in many ways, eternal, and demonstrative of the profound impact that teachers can have.
