I thought this was the worst movie I have ever seen. It was as boring as any professional development for teachers. I felt like the point was lost in the dullness of the school day.

I thought this movie was interesting..and educational in a small way ..but it is not what I would call entertaining... and I wish I haden't paid $6.50 to see it.

I thought this was one of the best films I've seen this year. The points made about multi-ethnic integration of immigrants and human contact raise it well above the run-of-the mill plot-centred movie and make it well worth watching. Great movie.

Excellent film. Truly brilliant. I didn't notice time passing, even though it checks in at a bit over two hours. It made me want to read Begaudeau's book.

The film is not really about classroom dynamics - though that is the mechanism through which the story is told and the characters set in motion. The film is about 'France', who gets to define that term, where the common cultural/historical project called 'France' is going, and what part public pedagogy will play in the creation of answers to the foregoing questions.

And, mercifully, no 'feel-good' ending, wrapping it all up with soaring music. Nope. We really have no clue what will happen to these teenagers, to this gifted yet weary and cranky teacher, or to la republique francaise. Yet, it is not a bleak film: life, and the film, and the classroom, are far too lively to leave such an impression. Well done.

I'm a teacher in southern Cal and all I can say is that, given the circumstances put forth in this "documentary", the guy broke every rule in the book. Since when do you let a student get the upper hand in your classroom (AND in the suspension hearing), then have an unbelievably assanine (spelling) argument out on the school-yard, surrounded by her cohorts? And, an autobiographic report? This is the best he could come up with for an assignment to represent work done in his class? His classroom looked like an empty shell, even towards the end of the year. I'd like to throw him into south central. The teachers there are the real heros, not this namby pamby. I have heard this movie described as a "must see" for teachers. Yeah, a must see on what NOT to do.

This is one of the best films I've seen in years. It is the joy and sadness of what youth are going through right NOW...this is universal in its precision...an archetypal performance by the main teacher and his students...so perfectly reflective of the emotional issues that arise within the diversity of a big city classroom and the lives of its denizens...a remarkable feat by all who collaborated in this film. This is an experience no one should miss who is still searching for answers to how the next generation will assume thier positions of moral courage and leadership!

As a teacher, I found the film an an intriguing experience and an excellent demonstration of how NOT to teach. If the French educational system is depicted realistically, it needs reform. It is clearly elitist, and more concerned with teaching a subject than teaching students. The use of the socratic method was inappropriate and confused the students, and created the setting for boredom and misbehavior. A more structured approach to teaching the class was necessary. Such an approach should move from the simple to the complex, and incorporate elements of success for each student at each stage. This is particularly important in that students seemed relatively unmotivated and had varying educational backgrounds.

Why on earth were classroom representatives present when teachers were discussing the private details surrounding a student's behavior! And, very importantly, why was the accused student not given an opportunity to present his side of the issue. What was depicted was an undemocratic approach to the evaluation of students behavior posing as democracy in education.

I saw the film as an indictment of the French curriculum, teaching methods, and administrative procedures. The teacher was idealistic and caring, but trapped in a warped situation, to which he contributed inadvertently.

The film nevertheless stimulated intense discussion between my teacher-wife and myself on the teaching flaws we saw.
Adieu!

The movie was dull and repetitive. It was also depressing. I give it a very low rating.

"I saw the film as an indictment of the French curriculum, teaching methods, and administrative procedures. The teacher was idealistic and caring, but trapped in a warped situation, to which he contributed inadvertently." - Kenneth (above)

This is exactly how I feel about this film. I'm not sure if the teaching techniques used were supposed to tell the audience that that was an example of effective teaching. I got the sense that the movie was showing the subtle limitations of them and that in such a diverse setting, you simply cannot cater to every single student's needs. You see that some students excel and some students are utterly lost in the system.

I have yet to read the book this movie was based upon. I feel that the book may give a chance to see what Francois was attempting to do and what he ended up doing. It's not hard to see that he saw certain aspects of the educational system that fell short and he felt helpless in his attempt to make an impact.

The movie wasn't supposed to give you answers to "how to teach a diverse classroom." For one, no one can give an answer to that let alone through a movie. The movie truly leaves you pondering what will happen to these students and then leaves you thinking about what can we do to further the education of those students in need.

I am 76 years old. My partner is 83. We watch two-hour movies over two nights.....We came back the second night with great enthusiasm,and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. OF COURSE it's not a manual for teaching teenagers. There IS no manual for teaching teenagers.....We loved the teacher. We loved that he "lost it" after being so incredibly patient in the first part.....It was also reassuring to find that French inner-city classrooms are the same crazy amalgam we have in California.
I had the feeling I had gone to school with "Esmeralda", the wise-guy girl, and I grew up in east L.A.
We LOVED it!

Well, it's a great movie, but it's not about ideal teaching, but real teaching. It's the moral failure of Marin that he can't admit that a) the girls' honest reporting of his remarks about Souleymane meant that he would never again be able to reach the kid; b) he called the girls names because he was angry with himself and projected it on them; c) when he crossed the line <he> provoked the violence that led to the blow-up and Souleymane's expulsion. He knows it's his fault but he can't admit it, take the responsibility, and apologize. In doing so he fails the students and himself.

Every teacher screws up. You have to respect the kids if you want their respect and you have to acknowledge when you make mistakes. Marin is a fine teacher, but the kids are tough, he is too self-protective, and the kids' bullshit detectors are excellent. They even tell him straight out, "Sir, you go too far!" when he uses humiliation to gain dominance in discussion.

I will use this movie as a discussion prompt for teachers and students at my special ed school: who merits respect? who must show respect? what behavior is okay or not, in the power dynamic between teachers and students?--all worth thinking about.

I think it's hysterical that all the "teachers" commenting here are unable to see past their own blinders. Now THAT says a lot about the American educational system, but nothing we didn't know. The arrogance of teachers in a system such as ours, which is failing so abysmally, who still feel they should "teach" a film-maker and writer what to do and not do in another culture entirely, well, let me just say that I'm none too proud to be an American at this moment. Teachers - teach thine self. Learn. My god, shut up just a little and learn. Perhaps THAT is the lesson you all can take away from this. You still have things to learn - maybe even from your students. God help them.