# I need movies about a teacher helping underprivileged kids. The more patronizing/cheesy the better. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267 "2012-11-17T01:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/21 "2012-11-17T07:04:32Z")
Mr. Holland’s Opus? Not exactly what you were looking for, but it is about a teacher inspirationally finding fulfillment. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/22 "2012-11-17T07:27:37Z")
The 2008 French movie _[Entre les Murs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq5qNzm3w-U)_, which was released in the United States as _The Class_. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/23 "2012-11-17T09:21:45Z")
[This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA0_NRjx9KQ) is the trailer for Blackboard Jungle. I think it’s the granddaddy of this kind of movie. Teenage delinquents!! _|Rock and roll!!_:eek: ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/24 "2012-11-17T10:14:57Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Mr. Holland’s Opus? Not exactly what you were looking for, but it is about a teacher inspirationally finding fulfillment. I was going to say. And _Goodbye, Mr. Chips_, though that’s not about underprivileged kids. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/25 "2012-11-17T10:46:52Z")
How about _Platoon_? The first part, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/26 "2012-11-17T17:00:40Z")
If Little League coaches count as teachers, [Hardball](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180734/) is a good example. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/27 "2012-11-17T17:19:15Z")
[Nice White Lady](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVF-nirSq5s) Hey, somebody had to post it. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/28 "2012-11-17T17:19:57Z")
Not cheesy, but realistic: Season Four of the HBO show[The Wire.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_system_of_The_Wire) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/29 "2012-11-17T17:30:19Z")
The Faculty? Although in that one the teachers are aliens, not the students. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/30 "2012-11-17T17:49:45Z")
Hamlet 2. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/31 "2012-11-17T18:00:19Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > To Sir with Love with a horrible song too. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/32 "2012-11-17T18:24:00Z")
Not exactly what the OP is looking for, but [187](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Eight_Seven) is an interesting take on the genre. Also with a unique martial arts approach, [Only the Strong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_the_Strong_(film)) (starring Mark Dacascos i.e. “The Chairman” on _Iron Chef America_! :D) ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/33 "2012-11-17T20:30:54Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > [_Only The Strong_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107750/): it’s like _To Sir With Love_ with kickboxing. Talk about underselling a movie. From what I gather from the trailer, this film is about The Chairman from Iron Chef America inspiring troubled teens and fighting gangsters using Capoeira (Brazilian dance fighting). ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/34 "2012-11-17T20:38:56Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Is he doing this so he doesn’t have to pay back his student loans? I’m unfamiliar with the particular loan forgiveness program you seem to be referencing. If you feel like educating me I’d be happy to talk to him about it. I don’t have debt from school, but I know he does. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/35 "2012-11-17T20:52:58Z")
[Good Will Hunting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Boh9IOZO7E) is a lot like those others, in retrospect. When I was in school they showed us [The Wave](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083316/) and [The Mighty Pawns](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093537/) - not bad either… ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/36 "2012-11-17T20:54:20Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > [Nice White Lady](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVF-nirSq5s) > > Hey, somebody had to post it. This would be perfect, except that my friend is an Asian man. > [@Maastricht](#): > > Not cheesy, but realistic: Season Four of the HBO show[The Wire.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_system_of_The_Wire) Speaking as someone who’s had more interaction with Baltimore criminals than is seemly, I didn’t find the episodes of The Wire that I saw to be terribly realistic. Although I never saw any episodes from the 4th season. Hope that doesn’t reduce your enjoyment of the show. > [@DCnDC](#): > > Not exactly what the OP is looking for, but [187](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Eight_Seven) is an interesting take on the genre. > > Also with a unique martial arts approach, [Only the Strong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_the_Strong_(film)) (starring Mark Dacascos i.e. “The Chairman” on _Iron Chef America_! :D) Yeah I think Only the Strong is going to be the next one I use. My friend was a big Iron Chef fan. Capoeira is also inherently ridiculous, so that always helps. It’s funny how much things can change in 15 years. 187 uses Bedford-Stuyvesant as an example of a dangerous ghetto. I know well to do white people who live in that area now. Ain’t gentrification neat? Thanks to everyone who has participated in this thread so far. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/37 "2012-11-17T21:18:39Z")
_[Race The Sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ1CGEFd6kw)_ - Halle Berry and Jim Belushi inspire underachieving Hawaiian students (including young Eliza Dushku and Casey Affleck). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/38 "2012-11-17T21:25:01Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > It’s funny how much things can change in 15 years. 187 uses Bedford-Stuyvesant as an example of a dangerous ghetto. I know well to do white people who live in that area now. Ain’t gentrification neat? o/` I walked through Bedford-Stuy alone... o/` ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/39 "2012-11-17T21:27:20Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > How about _Platoon_? The first part, anyway. Did you mean _Full Metal Jacket_? ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267/40 "2012-11-17T21:36:52Z")
[Half Nelson](http://www.imdb.com/rg/em_share/rt_iphone/title/tt0468489)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-movies-about-a-teacher-helping-underprivileged-kids-the-more-patronizing-cheesy-the-better/641267.md?page=3)