MovieChat Forums > Blackboard Jungle (1955) Discussion > Would you have stayed at that school?

Would you have stayed at that school?


He had the chance to go to a "better" school, but decided to remain there. What would you have done?

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Go Michigan State, THE University of Michigan

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[deleted]

I've tutored a couple kids like that...not violent and not that old, but all the same not caring one bit about learning and complete and total goof offs through and through. I stuck around long enough to help them improve enough to pull their grades and their overall accuracy up...I reckon I would've stayed there as well. If somebody don't stop to try and get through to them, who will, and then where will they be?

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If somebody don't stop to try and get through to them, who will, and then where will they be?

Were you tutoring grammar???

Reach out your hand, if your cup be empty
if your cup is full, may it be again

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So I'm not Dadier, but I always use proper grammer when helping kids with their studies.

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I can't help myself... "grammer"?

I use proper grammar too, whenever possible. :)

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No way would I have lasted at a school like this one!

I never grew up in a neighborhood like the one where this school is located. I wouldn't know how to deal with such kids.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = 

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I like to think I would have stuck it out. Once over the very heavy early bumps I can understand why Dadier decided to stay. Even the cynical teacher played by Louis Calhern told him near the end that if he quit this school he'd quit the next one and the next one and eventually stop teaching altogether. I think I'd stay out of self-respect and precisely because it is a challenge.

On the other hand, after a few years, particularly once he had a family, I can see Dadier leaving for a better school, and I might do the same. By then you'd have a sense of fulfillment and be able to legitimately (and without guilt) think of taking a better job.

Frankly, I don't know why he applied for a job at North Manual in the first place. If his old professor could get him a job at the "nice school" midway through the semester he certainly could have gotten him a job beforehand.

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In the novel, it's stated that the teachers have to teach their first year in a vocational school. It was a city or state requirement imposed because of a shortage of vocational school teachers. Dadier had to complete his first year before applying for a job at a non-vocational school.

I'm not sure if that's historically accurate, but the author was a teacher, and probably wouldn't have invented that.

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[–] hobnob53 7 years ago
I like to think I would have stuck it out. Once over the very heavy early bumps I can understand why Dadier decided to stay. Even the cynical teacher played by Louis Calhern told him near the end that if he quit this school he'd quit the next one and the next one and eventually stop teaching altogether. I think I'd stay out of self-respect and precisely because it is a challenge.

On the other hand, after a few years, particularly once he had a family, I can see Dadier leaving for a better school, and I might do the same. By then you'd have a sense of fulfillment and be able to legitimately (and without guilt) think of taking a better job.

Frankly, I don't know why he applied for a job at North Manual in the first place. If his old professor could get him a job at the "nice school" midway through the semester he certainly could have gotten him a job beforehand.


I'd like to think I would've stuck it out as well... If I was a male teacher. Teaching is a noble profession. But, as a female teacher who becomes targeted for sexual assault, having your very own students condone the act, and retaliate... That's enough to not only give up on teaching, but humanity in general. Even the other teachers objectified Lois and made inappropriate comments toward her.

However badly the male teachers had it in the school within the film (and real life), female teachers had it a lot worse. The military is the same way, sadly. That's what ultimately kept me out of it.

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