I have recently become aware of two documentaries about education that will be coming out later this year.  The two documentaries are Waiting for Superman and Race to Nowhere.  Both of these talk about the current state of education in America and what needs to be done to fix the problem.  These two documentaries may have just enough punch and support behind them to finally get America’s schools back on track.

Waiting for Superman

Director Davis Guggenheim’s, the director of An Inconvenient Truth, latest project is to tackle the problem with America’s public school system.  A short preview of the film can be seen here.  The film introduces students, parents, educators, and concerned citizens.  It features Michelle Rhee, Education Chief in Washington D.C., Bill Gates of Microsoft and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Geoffrey Canada from Harlem Children’s Zone.  It not only paints a vivid picture of the problems in America’s public schools, but also paints rays of hope by showing some reforms and reformers who are starting to make a difference in America’s schools.  Waiting for Superman won the Audience Award for Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival 2010.

Race to Nowhere

Director Vicki Abeles also takes on the problem in America’s public schools.  The films trailer can be found here.  The approach taken in this documentary is to focus more on the expectations that are being placed on the students from parents, teachers, colleges, etc.  These expectations often lead to stressed students and actual lowers the amount of real learning in the classroom.  The film introduces key experts in learning and child psychology, such as Dr. Madeline Levine and Dr. Denise Pope.  This documentary is a call to action to change the way public schools and our society thing about the expectations we place on our students and correcting our perception of achievement.

Final Thoughts

I am very excited for these two films to be released so I can watch them.  I think these films can truly open the eyes of America to the concerns that teachers and educators see every day but are powerless to do anything about.  If we unite to make a difference, change will occur.  Just as the iPad has a chance to change education, Waiting for Superman and Race to Nowhere also have the chance to change education.

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