Choosing to become a teacher is a rewarding decision for driven students.
Most people who became teachers had at least one very influential teacher in the past. Good teachers can mold students’ minds, change their perspectives on life and inspire them to be better people who in turn help others.
These are five of the most inspirational movies about teachers.
1. “Homeless To Harvard: The Liz Murray Story”
In this true movie, Liz Murray is a girl whose parents are drug addicts. The movie portrays the struggles she faced as a result of her parents’ addictions and her mother’s death from AIDS as a result of her addiction. Soon after, Liz became homeless. Her mother’s death motivated her to study hard, and she had one teacher who worked hard to help her achieve her goals. Liz was able to finish high school early. With the help of her committed teacher, she was able to get accepted into Harvard.
Resource: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Teaching Degree Programs
2. “Music Of The Heart”
This is one of Wes Craven’s non-horror movies that focuses on a violin teacher’s struggles. After her husband abandons her, Roberta the violin teacher is depressed. She takes a teaching job in the notoriously rough Harlem area in New York City. Roberta must teach violin to inner-city kids. Although she receives a frosty initial reception from the principal and school kids, her program succeeds. It is cut suddenly 10 years later, and the pupils who she helped now band together to set up a fundraiser and save it.
3. “Free Of Eden”
In this Sullivan film, Nicole is an underprivileged African-American girl from Brooklyn’s projects who drops out of high school to work. Will Cleamons was one of her teachers but became a successful businessman after teaching. Cleamons now lives in Manhattan, and Nicole contacts him to ask for tutoring help after she experiences a devastating crime. Mr. Cleamons tutors Nicole and helps her succeed and leave behind a dangerous and dead-end life in the projects. In turn, Nicole helps Mr. Cleamons resolve some of his problems from the past.
4. “Sister Act II: Back In The Habit”
Whoopi Goldberg returns disguised as a nun in this inspirational comedy to help the nuns who previously sheltered her from a murderous lover. As a former Las Vegas singer, she is given the task of teaching a music class for a rough and rebellious bunch of students. With some tough but innovative teaching tactics, she is able to spark interest among the students. Although she helps all of them, the movie focuses on Goldberg helping a very talented girl whose jaded mother does not want the girl to pursue singing.
5. “The Miracle Worker”
Although there are multiple versions of this film, the older 1962 version received higher ratings. The movie focuses on young Helen Keller. As a baby, a terrible fever left her blind and deaf. In response to her frustrations and uncontrollable outbursts from this, Keller’s parents bring in a former student named Anne from the Perkins School for the Blind. She breaks down Helen’s walls by persistence and love. In the end, Anne becomes an inspiration and mentor to Helen.
According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, good teachers must have several qualities. They must know their students, appreciate students, be reflective, develop bonds with students, love to learn and be good communicators. It is never too early to start building and practicing these skills. In addition to skills, the key to becoming an inspirational and influential educator is earning a teaching degree.
