Dead Poets Society
The following clip is from Dead Poets Society which follows a group of students (Todd Anderson, Neil Perry, Richard Cameron and Charlie Dalton) who attend a prestigious Vermont boarding school named Welton Academy. Throughout the film, the new English teacher, Professor John Keating (Robin Williams) takes the group of boys under his wing and it is Keating’s passion for his subject, that illuminates the classroom, it is his teaching methods that are deemed ‘unorthodox’ throughout the film that helps the students through not only their school life but their home life as they face huge pressure from their parents. John Keating introduces his students to ‘the dead poet’s society’ and inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective, and to look deeply into the story and emotions within the poem, his teaching methods are based a lot on perspective, “I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way”.
In the following clip, Professor Keating educates the young men on life, death and Carpe Diem (seizing the day) he gets the students to look at the hall way of alumni. Keating teaches the boys that they need to use carpe diem, to not die with regret and to live life to the fullest, they need to “seize the day and make their lives extraordinary” There are many things throughout this clip that highlight Keating’s teaching methods, firstly he takes the children out of the classroom which I believe is necessary to bring focus back to the subject, and to gain a new perspective on something sometimes you have to take it to another place, he secondly uses common ground to connect with the boys, by looking at past students who were once their age helps the student engage personally with the questions asked. Keating’s intentions when teaching is to connect with his students, he isn’t just there to teach for an hour, go home and forget, he’s there to influence and guide his students through the entirety of their school life, which is something I respect and would hope to do when teaching.
Keating’s way of teaching is something I admire, he sees the students as humans not just a number, he wants to expose them to what life has to offer, and as much as he is criticised by the other teachers he still carries on the way he is, for example the Latin teacher who says the students cannot be free thinkers at the age of seventeen, to this Keating replies "It is only in their minds that men can truly be free. T'was always thus, and always thus shall be." Professor Keating establishes a relationship with each of his students it is this relationship he has with his students that helps them learn, they know he cares for them and notices them therefore they care what he has to say, with Keating’s way of teaching and his guidance the group of students are able to break out of their shells and ultimately ‘seize the day’.
Whiplash:
Whiplash is a story that follows a young aspiring musician Andrew Neiman, who is attending a prestigious music school Shaffer conservatoire in New York, the film focuses on the relationship between the young jazz drummer and his abusive instructor, Terence Fletcher. Fletcher is the most respected professor at the school however, there is a fine line between respected and feared. Throughout the film Fletcher demonstrates very problematic teaching methods, from verbal abuse, humiliation and even physical violence towards his students- there is a way to push your students to the extreme however this is not the way to conduct yourself. What saddens me about his teaching methods is that Andrew embraces the abuse given to him, as he is convinced it will make him “one of the greats”.
The following clip exposes Fletchers poor teaching methods, whilst playing the Hank Levy piece “Whiplash” Andrew struggles to keep the tempo, Fletcher throws a chair at him, slaps him and humiliates him in front of the band. Fletcher goes on to call Andrew a “worthless, friendless, faggot lipped, little piece of shit” once a student is taught like this I believe it is harder to teach them, they wouldn’t learn anything in this type of environment because they would be too scared to look stupid. ‘Teaching’ through fear will never help students learn anything, they’ll become numb or they’ll start to behave like the teacher which is what happens during Whiplash. Because of Fletchers constant anger towards Andrew, Andrew’s behaviour begins to change he becomes hostile, shuts down relationships and friendships all because of a teacher’s influence. In comparison to Dead Poets Society, where Keating’s uses comedy, friendship and understanding to make a connection with his students Whiplash exposes teaching methods ran by fear, abuse and anger- both endings involve students having a breakthrough for the better however in Dead Poets Society the students’ progress is continuous throughout both educationally and mindfully, however in Whiplash it takes Andrew’s breakdown for there to be a revelation and for him to finally be happy as an accomplished musician even though he only feels this after getting recognition from Fletcher. I believe as a teacher it is vital to be a good influence on your students as you don’t know how this will impact them throughout their lives, you have a role as a teacher to set a student up to be the best they can be despite any difficulties that may occur.
- Olivia Bonner.