The Ron Clark Story

I have to deal with this thematic field of "education" during studying term; and this film is very important tool for understanding the inner world of teacher's heart and mind and his daily struggle against rebellious children. An excellent, extremely interesting film of a teacher in the New York City school system.While the movie is terrific and a joy to watch, it is unfortunately unrealistic.The New York City school system is in a quagmire and no one has been able to solve the problems.Nevertheless, we have a true story of a teacher who did make a difference. From North Carolina, Ron Clark had a definite calling for teaching. He comes to New York and takes on a class that no one wants. The students are way out of control. Clark gets it right by putting down the rules. Did you notice how quickly most of the class turned from being recalcitrants to ardent listeners? Unfortunately, this does not happen in 99% of our classrooms in the city. In addition, teachers do not get the support of supervisors as at first shown in the film. The latter does an excellent job of showing the home environment of the pupils. Obviously, from dysfunctional homes, this type of environment is not at all conducive to learning. Mat Perry is excellent as the idealistic teacher who certainly is so sure of himself except for that moment when he temporarily lost it. It is also obvious that the students that Clark had were capable of doing the work but were severe behavior problems. Notice that everyone must have been reading on level or knew how to read to be able to comprehend what he was discussing. Yes, he brought the material, including the rap music on the presidents to their level but there had to be an innate ability to begin with. Clark tried to work with the abilities of his students by concentrating on the positive. Speak to our New York City teachers. It's not happening the way it happened in Clark's classroom. Isn't it unfortunate that someone with Clark's talent left the city to form an academy in Georgia? Another problem in this system is that the most creative teachers are leaving to the world of supervision or just plain quitting.I would like the producers of this film to do a follow-up on the rest of the system. It should only be as good as this film. This film did not show the role of the assistant principal and guidance counselor in the school. For sure, these students were in need of professional help. A therapist was needed as well. The movie did bring out that the principal was solely interested in exam scores. Notice that he chewed the teacher out in front of the students. How do you expect students to show any kind of respect when that occurs? I also observed that there was no talk of co-operative learning. The bulk of the instruction came from Mr. Clark itself. Try that today in a New York City classroom and your headed for trouble. Am sure that the teacher of the honors class had to answer to the principal when Clark's class did better on the statewide exams. I wouldn't want to be in that teacher's place. This film was created to show us the real problems of education and up-bringing. Withing the surface of clarity and calmness there is a huge stream with rapid flow of problems. And Ron Clark was born to stop the river's anger and roar and turn it into peaceful lake of harmony and student's dedication.

Dangerous Minds

I have to pass this way, to be a teacher for several months of my practice and then decide whether to choose this way or not. And such films can either kill your desire to give the knowledge or just improve in thoughts of higher mission.The film Dangerous Minds" is not as original a title as "My Posse Don't Do Homework," the name of the book on which it is based, but it is probably a more accurate reflection of the film, anyway. It hasn't a shred of originality. The title suggested something like a crime/gangster film to me, and of course the song in the opening sequence is a bit of an odd choice, but it was still a good film. Based on a true story, the story sees ex-marine Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) hired as a teacher at Parkmont High School, for a class of street-wise teens, involved with gangs and drugs. Rap has a bad reputation in white circles, where many people believe it consists of obscene and violent anti-white and anti-female guttural. Some of it does. Most does not. Most white listeners don't care; they hear black voices in a litany of discontent, and tune out.Yet rap plays the same role today as Bob Dylan did in 1960, giving voice to the hopes and angers of a generation, and a lot of rap is powerful writing.The first day Louanne gives up pretty quickly, but by the second she is determined to get through and try to teach them English, i.e. poetry, but she is using very unconventional methods to do so. Even though she is questioned by the head and stuff, it does seem to be working, and the students are beginning to trust and respect her, and get on with the work. It is only when a student is shot and killed that this ends, and overwhelmed with guilt, Louanne wants to quit her job, and the students are insisting she stays, but in the end, she still left. Also starring George Dzundza as Hal Griffith, Courtney B. Vance as George Grandey, Robin Bartlett as Carla Nichols, Bruklin Harris as Callie Roberts, Renoly Santiago as Raul Sanchero, Wade Dominguez as Emilio Ramirez, Beatrice Winde as Mary Benton and Lorraine Toussaint as Irene Roberts. So, I should say, that this film worth watching – it’s not a stone of genius, but good cinema, connected with my today’s issue of problem children.

Lab. Work 1

School Education

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Educational Institutions in Order	England	the USA	Australia
1	primary school (age 5 - 11)	kindergarten elementary school (age 6 - 11) 1st grade up to 6th grade	Preps Than kindergarten
2	Secondary or comprehensive school (age 11 – 16) GCSE at 16 years	Junior high school (age 11 - 14) 7th – 9th grade	Primary education Primary school (up to 11)
3	Vocational course	Senior high school (age 14 - 16 10th – 12th grade	Intermediate school (age – for a couple of years)
4	Leave school and start work	Leave school (age 16)	High school (age – start at 12 or 13 – 15 or 16) 3rd form General exam Some State School Certificate – general qualification
5	Stay for 2 years (the 6th form) (age 16-18) A-level and Finish education	High school (age 16-18) 1st freshman 2nd sophomore 3rd juniors 4th seniors	Leave school (age - 16)
6	Higher education in College or University (age 18-21)	Colleague or University 1st degree – for 4 years Junior college 2 year course	University entrance examinations Be omitted to university
7			Various sorts of higher education

2. Listen again and check your knowledge of the education systems in Britain and the USA. Fill in the gaps in these sentences.

1.    Before they start school, very young children in Britain may go to a kindergarten where they play with other children and learn to socialize.

2.    British children start primary school at the age of 5 and move to a secondary school at 11 or 13. At the age of 18 or 19 they may go on to higher education at a university, polytechnic or college.

3.    At the age of 16, British pupils take GCSE exams. They may stay on at school to take more two years later when they are in the sixth form.

4.    A British school or university year is divided into three terms; in America the year is divided into two terms.

5.    In Britain, private boarding schools are known as private schools – in the USA, this term refers to the normal kind or state schools.

6.    At the end of a university course, graduates are awarded a degree - probably a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or Bed (Bachelor of Education); post-graduates can take a further course or do research and write a diploma in the hope of getting an MA (Master of Arts) or a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

3. What are the main differences between the education system in Russia and those described in the recording? Give a brief account of the education system in Russia.

I Pre-school educational establishment

1. day nursery (1-2)

2. kindergarten (3-7)

II General educational organization

(1-4 classes) (age 6-7 – 10-11)

(5-9 classes) (age 10-11 – 15-16)

(9 – 11 classes) (age 15-16 – 17-18)

1. Elementary School

2. Progymnasium

3. School

4. Gymnasium

5. National Gymnasium

6. Lyceum

7. Educative Complex

8. School with A Special Profile

9. Profession-oriented School

10. Cadet Corps

III Qualified Educational Establishment - after 9 class at the age of 15 or 16 up to 18 or 19

or after 11 class at the age of 17 or 18 up to 18 or 19

1. Vocational school

2. Trade School

3. College

4. Elementary Vocational Training

IV Higher Education - After 11 class or leaving qualified educational organizations, pupils take Uniform state exam to enter the step of higher education

Old system

1^st – 5^th or 6^th courses (18-19 up to 22- 23 or 24)

1. Academy

2. Institute

3. University

4. Postgraduate Studentship (to be an Assistant Professor, Candidate of Science, Doctor of Science or Professor)

New system

1^st – 4^th courses (18-19 up to 21-22) - Bachelor of Library Science

1 – 2 degree (doesn’t matter) - Holder of a Master's Degree

1. You’ll hear two accounts of a first day at school – one from a little boy’s point of view, the other from a young teacher’s point of view. The first extract is taken from ‘Cider with Rosie’ by Laurie Lee (1959), the second extract is from ‘Decline and Fall’ by Evelyn Waugh (1928). How did the two protagonists feel about the first class before the day started and after it finished? Sort the adjectives in the table to characterize the emotions of the main characters on the first day at school. You will not need to use ALL the adjectives.  

EMOTIONS	LAURIE LEE	PAUL PENNYFEATHER
Agreeable – приятный Angry – злой Bewildered – смущённый Brave – храбрый Calm – спокойный Clumsy – неуклюжий Defeated – побеждённый Delightful – восхитительный Eager – нетерпеливый Embarrassed - смущенный Fierce – жестокий Grumpy - сварливый Happy – счастливый Helpless – беспомощный Jolly - весёлый Lively –живой Nervous – нервный Obedient - послушный Obnoxious – неприятный Panicky – паникующий Proud – гордый Relieved – освобождённый Repulsive – отталкивающий Scary – жуткий Thankful – благодарный Thoughtless – необдуманный Uptight – встревоженный Victorious – победоносный Worried – обеспокоенный Zealous - ревностный	Angry – злой Bewildered – смущённый Clumsy – неуклюжий Defeated – побеждённый Eager – нетерпеливый Embarrassed - смущенный Grumpy - сварливый Happy – счастливый Helpless – беспомощный Nervous – нервный Obedient - послушный Panicky – паникующий Relieved – освобождённый Scary – жуткий Uptight – встревоженный	Angry – злой Bewildered – смущённый Fierce – жестокий Grumpy - сварливый Nervous – нервный Obnoxious – неприятный Repulsive – отталкивающий Scary – жуткий Thoughtless – необдуманный

2. Comment on each emotion in the above task using the information in the audio stories.

a) Lee was angry, bewildered because he ought to go to school. His parents’ wishes made him defeated. Though the boy was eager for that event in the bottom of his soul. He went to school his clumsy footsteps. The pupil felt embarrassed to appear in a new society, in a strange world of education. All in all he was happy, because his proud sister made some food for him. During the school time, Lee was helpless at school, waiting for the bell. All in all the boy was nervous. But he has no choice, he was to be obedient. On his way to school, he was panicky, thinking about his future first day. But having come home he understood that he was relieved that time. Those hours seemed really scary for he was uptight, as he didn’t know what to think it would be, the first day at school.

b) Paul Pennyfeather

The man was angry for his pupils, he was shouting at them. There was something in his life what made him so bewildered. Paul was fierce at his attitude to students. His general mood was grumpy. During the whole lesson the teacher was nervous. It’s an open secret, that such a behavior was obnoxious for pupils. The man was repulsive for them. All his manners were scary, all his words were thoughtless.

3. Here are some excerpts about school from ‘Decline and Fall’ by Evelyn Waugh. What impression about school education do you get after reading the excerpts? Give a small account of the school, the staff, and pupils described by the author.

‘Augustus Fagan, Esquire, Ph.D., Llanabba Castle, N.Wales, requires immediately junior assistant to teach Classics and English to University Standard with subsidiary Mathematics, German and French. Experience essential; first-class games essential...’

'Might have been made for you,' said Mr. Levy.

'But I don't know a word of German, I've had no experience, I've got no testimonials, and I can't play cricket,' said Paul.

This excerpt shows us, that the teacher doesn’t pay attention to wishes of the pupil. They can’t come to conclusion. They don’t have common issues. It doesn’t matter for the teacher the position of the pupil.

"We class schools, you see, into four grades: Leading School, First-rate School, Good School, and School. Frankly," said Mr. Levy, "School is pretty bad..." (Part One, Chapter One)

If you are on a job, you are supposed to love it, or the rhetorical question arises, why you are here.

'But what am I to teach them?' said Paul in sudden panic.

'Oh, you shouldn't try to teach them anything, not just yet, anyway. Just keep them quiet.' (Part One, Chapter V)

The level of pupils’ knowledge is not seemed interesting and important for the teacher. The teacher doesn’t want to help, he is eager to stay everything on its place

LIVE AND LEARN

1. In your opinion, what are the reasons students stay away from school? Think about boredom, influence of friends, problems at school, family problems. What problems can truancy cause a student?

In my opinion, there are a lot of reasons why pupils stay away from school:

a) they may have problem with their study, it doesn’t manage to them to study a subject

b) they may have psychological problems with their teachers, who may not understand them and their individuality – so called misunderstanding

c) they may have problems within family, that’s why they decided to miss classes to be alone and have time to think

d) a pupil may have conflicts with his classmates

e) there are lots of children who are under the influence of some particular sub-cultural groups

From my point of view, following problems can truancy cause a student:

a) Students want to feel themselves grown-enough to be near parents’ wing and so want to work

b) We think that her are many subjects which won’t be necessary for your future life

c) there are a lot of more interesting things at the age of 20 or higher than to sit and learn

d) sometimes we are sure that it will be no problems to take an exam or credit, because of the loyalty of professors.

2. You are going to listen to the interview with headmaster of East Crompton Comprehensive School Dr. Charles Greenway. For questions 1-7 choose the correct answer (A, B or C).

1 – b;

2 – с (a);

 3 – a;

4 – b;

5 – a;

6 – c;

7 – b.

3. Which of the following things would be most effective in combating truancy? Rank them and give a short account describing your choice.

a)      more interesting lessons – if a teacher wants pupils not to truant his classes, so he should make it interesting and captured

b)      teaching students to respect school – each school has its own traditions and customs, that’s why a teaching staff are to explain to each pupils that he has o respect his school and follow his teachers’’ instructions

c)      more responsible parenting  - parents are also play a great role, concerning this question, they have to have a discussion with their child, according to this certain problem, letting him know, that it’s bad to miss classes.

d)     strict punishment – punishment is not an ideal variant, but there are cases when this method can stimulate children

e)      police involvement – police officers must find burglars, murderers and other criminals, and, in this case, parents will be calm, it is not police’s business to pay attention to the school system

MP3 AUDIO 3.4

MP3 AUDIO 3.4

 Major advantage of a state school is that it’s free, while public schools can be quite expensive.Public schools have better instructors and facilities, but what is great about state schools is a mix of students.The big advantage of going to public schools is the connections you make, moreover, better employers look for people first at public schools, if they can’t find anyone at public schools only then they might look for someone in a state school. However, public schools cost a lot.

a) the education system in your country/the education system in the UK or the USA

It is an open secret, that the UK and USA systems are similar to each other, though our is only on its way to them.

b) wearing school uniform/wearing what you like

When I was a pupil we faced this problem, but actually we don’t wear uniform, though it was out of the question to wear jeans and t-shirts.

More over there are lots of school which have their own traditions. By the way, uniform can illustrate your belonging to a certain specialty.

All in all, uniform is not bad, but it is not necessary to wear it, but clothes should be elegant and classical