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"He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind."
Last night I watched the 1960 classic film Inherit the Wind starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, and Dick York. I can't believe I never watched this fantastic film before. It easily makes my top 25 favorite films of all time (not sure who just got bumped). I also think this film should be required viewing for preservice teachers as a catalyst for discussion regarding school politics, policy, and the ethics (which are topics I don't remember being discussed in great enough depth in my own teacher training).
Inherit the Wind is a dramatization of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial where a public school teacher was arrested for teaching Darwin's Origin of Species. While the story was built around this well known evolution vs. creationism debate the topic is not the core issue in this film. What is at issue is the conflict that often arises between truth and righteousness and what it means for employees, public servants, teachers, etc. This theme has broad application and is timeless in its levity. This issue has been with us for at least as long as we have a recorded history. It is the perfect parallel to the story of Socrates "corrupting the youth." It is also a story I feel has just as much relevance to today and today's issues regarding social media, alternative ed, the production gap, the achievement gap, or any other issue that threatens to upset the status quo.
The following are five clips from the film that I feel have particular relevance today for education and the teaching profession:
On Disrupting the Status Quo:
On Policy & Politics:
On Social Media, Other Technologies, and Human Progress:
This past spring I added some new training modules to Goodhue Public School's Online Teacher Technology Training program. I also spent quite a bit of time updating the existing modules. The following are free training modules anyone can use. Goodhue Teachers get a stipend for completing a set amount of these modules. So far this model of technology training has been fairly successful. However, I get far more feedback and replies about these training modules from teachers outside our small little district than from teachers who I actually work with. Feel free to use and share:
I have been busy this summer. Our district started to implement a project I put together that teaches technology and technology integration to teachers online. Now, there are products out there like InfoSource that do this but our program is outcome based and follows a method that hopefully will align with what teachers need to do to prepare curriculum, activities, etc. for their practice. Feel free to utilize any or all of these online lessons. You can even participate in our discussion boards. However, some lessons are designed specifically for our district's needs.
