“American Teacher” covers the lives and experiences of current and former teachers, administrators, educational researchers, and students. The film explores the issues surrounding education and, in its own words, emphasizes that no amount of reform of the educational system can be successful without the buy-in and support of a new generation of teachers. In this, the film explores various solutions to the teacher problem, including pay, societal value, college experience, rigor, and workload.

2. Key points or themes highlighted in the film.

The film opens by emphasizing, first and foremost, that teachers are the very backbone of education and that a successful society—that is, one that is educated—is built off having successful teachers. In that, the authors identify various methods by which America could try to both recruit and retain teachers. They talk a lot about pay and workload and how many people have left the profession because the expectations of teachers were greater than the benefits of teaching. The authors also explore how teaching is treated in other countries, such as Finland, where teachers are paid better and are treated like the professionals that they are. On that note, the film often circles back to pay not being the only factor. If society cannot treat it’s teachers well, then America will find that we are not able to provide the best services to our students and, in that, will ultimately undermine our way of life.

3. Personal reflection: What did you learn? How did it challenge or reinforce your ideas about education?

Having taught for as long as I have, this film didn’t show me anything I was unfamiliar with. However, it did reinforce to me three things:

-      Teachers need to be paid more. While the film makes the valid point that paying more will not necessary make teachers better, it will encourage better people to join and stay in the profession.

-      Schools and districts need to respect a teacher’s personal time. Teachers are overworked and more pay will not make a difference. I personally refuse to take my work home me (unless under extreme circumstances) and that’s as a result of years of working overtime and doing way too much work at home and on my own schedule. I’ve worked many jobs in my life and not a single one has ever expected me to work more than I’m paid for and I don’t know why teaching is expected to be any different.

-      Teachers need to be treated better. We are not seen as professionals. In my own time in teaching, I’ve heard parents refer to us as, essentially, “babysitters”. I can’t imagine a parent in a nation that values teachers saying something like this and it goes to show how far too many Americans simply dismiss the work of teachers and see little to no value in it.

4. Connections to course concepts: Tie the film to theories, ideas, or issues we've discussed in class.

This film reminds me, most recently, of the book’s explorations on various reforms that have been attempted to improve education. The film actually opens by discussing many of these early reforms: creation of public schools, female teachers (and the pay issue connected to that), charter schools, No Child Left Behind, and more. The film looks at all of these issues and, no matter what, always brings it back to how many of these reforms failed (or are failing) because teachers are not being included or emphasized in the solutions. In fact, the film even points to situations where teachers left because they felt the reforms did not take their needs into account. Beyond that, this film reminds me of an earlier chapter talking about the so-called “benefits” of teaching, which included vacation, pay, prestige, and so on. I think this film really dug into those concepts and highlighted that, while many teachers do benefit from those things, not all of us do and it’s unfortunate that so many teachers leave the profession because they are not given the same kinds of respect any other kind of profession is given.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ouJAoFXQo

Some key takeaways you learn about are systemic barriers that hinder the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities, the benefits of inclusion, and the challenging societal attitudes. This documentary showcases the positive impacts of this approach on both students with and without disabilities and how they can be integrated into a gen ed classroom while receiving the necessary support and accommodations. People should consider watching it because it is a call to action, urging viewers to advocate for inclusive education and create a society where diversity and inclusion are valued.

-Disabled People have the right to exist where everybody else does, including in public schools

- Powerful moment of disabled people climbing the stairs of the capitol building

- Anyone whos going into education should watch this documentary to understand what people went through to get ADA, IDEA and 504 plans implemented and why

Summary: Education has become a tunnel where children are being directed in one direction at the same speed, same expectations, and a common goal that being to graduate. There is more to education than the measurements of students' test scores. Children are living for the first time in their entire life so they need to try new things and develop themselves into productive people.

Biggest Takeaway: “Little professionals” is the most accurate point given as to how kids are raised in the U.S. It’s a fitting description as so many things are pushed on students in hopes of making them “successful”

Why you should watch this documentary:

The audience for this documentary is broad but can be represented in age. Children should watch this to illustrate what their life may look like in the future. It also shows how many other kids are going through the same issues and they should look to find friends to help with school and express their feelings to feel understood. Adults/parents should watch this to understand the current state of education (considering the system hasn’t changed much). Hence, they are better educated to advocate for future education reforms and laws. Parents often forget how they behaved as a child or the upcoming they wanted for themselves that could be enacted. It’s easy to lose track of how a kid feels when you’re so focused on making sure they make it home healthy and alive at the end of the day.