MovieChat Forums > Teachers (1984) Discussion > One of the few somewhat 'realistic' movi...

One of the few somewhat 'realistic' movies about high school

posted 18 years ago by jersey-3
11 replies | jump to latest

As a high school teacher...even though this movie is 22 years old...it is one of the most realistic movies about the high school life of teachers and the daily battles we put up with.

I first saw the movie on HBO when I was 11 years old in 1984. And even now, us high school teachers consider this one of the few MUST SEE movies about school if you are to be a teacher.

Would love a DVD version since my copy, taped off cable back in the 1980s, is wearing VERY THIN!

[–] jeffman52001 18 years ago

Hello jersey 3, I think this movie is such a great film about high school here in the U.S., it shows the problems we face here in some of our schools. I wish in my school that there were more teachers like Alex Jurel. "Teachers" made me see that anyone can make a difference to a student out there like the character Eddie Pilikian, or any one period. This movie shows that the beaurocracy, apathy and red tape is what is causing schools to be as bad as the one in this film.

I have this movie on VHS, I bought it a couple of years ago and the tape is still great. This movie really is one of the underrated films of the 1980s. I love the songs in the film, especially "Teacher, Teacher" by 38 Special, "In the Jungle" by The Motels, "Interstate Love Afair" by Night Ranger and "Edge of a Dream" by Joe Cocker.

[–] csjaffe2003 17 years ago

I saw this movie back in 1984 I was 15. I went on a date with some girl I met from the mall in New Jersey. I saw the movie at Freehold Cinema 9 long before there were these Super Hi Fi Surround theaters today. It was pretty small at the time. My Father saw it and liked Joe Cockers song in the film and purchased the soundtrack on cassette, today I still have it.

[–] purplerustling 16 years ago

...if you look at postings about other films about high school there are posters who say, "This is so realistic!" or "This is the way it really is!"

When, in reality, these films have nothing to do with being "realistic."

No offense to the posters I referenced.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jejozi 12 years ago

I'm sure there were schools like this, especially in the inner city. Just like Dazed and Confused was quite true to life for my HS. There are so many different HS experiences, no one movie can represent them all.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] mr-murph 15 years ago

I agree totally with you Jersey-3. I was a high school teacher in the midwest when this came out, and caught it in the theater. Administrators should show this funny and poignant movie during the opening meeting of school, instead of blathering on.

[–] dalton_industries 14 years ago

That would be a brilliant idea!

I teach high school. It's only my second year, but I could write a screenplay on the things I've been privvy to in that short amount of time. One thing I've noticed about teacher/student relationships is that very often teachers, administators, or other adults with authority tend to talk at, rather then talk to students. I remember the same thing when I was a teenager. It's no wonder why youth could care less about what authority figures say when they receive zero respect or acknowledgement, or even encouragement to do the right thing.

On the other side of the coin, if you're going to pay teachers next to nothing for their efforts, why are they going to care? The state budget in California (where I work) just took a huge hit this last year with massive layoffs across the board. Money will continue to dry up over the next five years with more layoffs. Some departments like my own have made teachers take a 20% pay cut while keeping the same work load. I know people who angry enough about that alone who are ready to leave and try their hand at more money in the private sector.

This movie rules for attempting to at least put forth all kinds of arguments and situations that, while maybe it can't completely tackle or even provide answers to, puts them on the table in the funniest and honest light as possible.

[–] amazon423 14 years ago

What goes on in this movie is partly the reason I left teaching 14 years ago. I have kept my credential current and got a Masters in Counseling so maybe some day I will go back. I also burned out. Not a whole lot of support from the administration, Jerk principals and vice principals, tons of papers to be corrected, assignments, controlling the kids(grades 7-12), classes of from 28 up to 70(PE classes), and kids and parents who just don't care and no amount of coaxing will make them care.

[–] ronnoco28 14 years ago

I enjoyed the movie, and found it basically realistic. Some of the character stereotypes were perhaps a bit exaggerated, but most of the basic situations were real, and even the stereotypes represent real situations that occasionally occur.

Did anyone notice the various random locations within the high-school building where meetings were held, depending upon where space happened to be available (sometimes the faculty lounge (preparing the legal strategy), other times a science classroom (another meeting), and finally the school-board meeting to fire Mr. Jurel (the gymnasium). This was both humorous and realistic.

[–] jefgg 11 years ago

Are there any other movies somewhat realistic about high school?

[–] henrimaine 11 years ago

What I liked about this movie is that it was from the perspective of the teachers. Most school movies tend to made from students' perspective. It's nice to have a movie that shows you how teachers cope in this crazy place called high school.