Accepted....and thoughts on education movies

Caught the 2006 movie Accepted on cable last week. The plot, if you didn't know, revolves around Bartleby Gaines, who gets rejected from every college he applies to. To appease his parents, he and several friends create a website for the South Harmon Institute of Technology--S.H.I.T. accepts Bartleby so he can make peace with his folks. Unfortunately for the friends, the website is active so hundreds of students apply online and--since the website says no students are rejected--everyone is admitted. Unremarkably, the rest of the film chronicles the creation of the college, the learning that takes place, the fight for "accreditation," and the eventual continued operation of the experimental institution.

Also saw Take the Lead (2006). In this film, based on a true story, Antonia Banderas, is a successful dance instructor who volunteers to teach ballroom dancing at an urban high school to students in detention. They get good enough to enter a ballroom dancing contest.

Higher education films--and education films in general--crack me up. According to the movies, to be a good teacher, all you have to do is crack down on the discipline (see Kindergarten Cop and To Sir with Love). You have the veteran teachers in the Teachers' Lounge who have given up on students and are just waiting for retirement (see Blackboard Jungle). You have the tough student who is smart (or talented) but keeps it hidden from his homeboys--the trampy-looking girl with the heart of gold (see Take the Lead). College, on the other hand, is one big animal house (see...uh, Animal House). When adult students enter the college film, they mostly fall in love with the faculty (see Back to School) or show up the traditional students (see Mr. Belvadere Goes to College).

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See "Films about Higher Education, Ranked Best to Worst: The Complete List of 400 Films" at
http://www.wright.edu/~martin.kich/HiEdFilms.htm

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Or for the other side see "Inspirational Education Movies" A Listmania! list by J. J. Tucker (Rochester, NY USA)" at
http://www.amazon.com/Inspirational-Education-Movies/lm/R1NBROPOIRM8RG