Read Cann, C. (2015). What school movies and TFA teach us ab…

EDU 220 School in Popular Film

Critical thinking questions for:

Cann, C. (2015). What school movies and TFA teach us about who should teach urban youth: Dominant narratives as public pedagogy. Urban Education, 50(3), 288-315.

(Approximately 75 words per response)

1. The author begins by describing the following:

White teacher savior films (WTSFs), occasionally biographical and often Hollywood produced, suggest that those with the least classroom teaching experience succeed in inspiring and capturing the attention of otherwise unruly and unmotivated urban youth of color. Without seniority, these novice teachers are often placed into low-tracked classrooms, populated with Black and Brown, low-income students. As the formula goes, these teachers initially struggle in their challenging teaching assignments but ultimately find the work rewarding and excel in raising academic achievement where credentialed, experienced career teachers have given up hope.

What movies have you seen or heard about that appear to follow this formula? How so?

1. What does the author have to say about how these films and TFA (Teach for America, an alternative teacher certification initiative) programs feel about what sort of preparation, training, and background is necessary for quality teaching in urban schools? How do their projections conflict with available data?
2. What is CRT and how does the author utilize it?
3. Assuming a male student of color goes through his k-12 education taught almost exclusively by women, and mostly White women, what might the impact of such an experience be? And how might it relate to the White Savior phenomenon?
4. The article states, Media representations of Black and Brown students and their schools have ramifications for how these students are perceived by and treated in schools. Ferguson (2001) found in her research that Black men and boys were represented in media simultaneously as criminals to fear and as endangered species, victims of their own behavior and circumstances. To what extent do you think this is true? In general, how do media depictions of people of color affect how they are perceived by the general public?
5. Based on the studies included in the article, what does the author conclude about the effectiveness of having Black teachers for Black students? Why is this significant and how does it relate to the topics discussed?
6. The authors primary problem with WTSFs can be articulated as follows:

These stories are about more than entertainment; they suggest and reflect the perception that urban youth do not need highly qualified, experienced, and trained teachers. In fact, they dont need resources at all; instead, all they need are well-meaning White teacher saviors, willing to provide appropriate rewards and/or punishments.

What do you think she means by this and do you agree? Explain.