Top 10 Teachers in the Movies

November 23rd, 2009

Many of us have been fortunate enough to learn from a teacher who inspired us to work hard and succeed (my high school French teacher comes to mind). Hollywood is certainly no stranger to the inspiring-teacher storyline. Still, these big-screen teachers remind us of the power of educators to help us change our lives for the better. Here’s a roundup of our favorite movie teachers:

1. Hilary Swank, Freedom Writers

In the grand tradition of films about inner-city high school students and the teachers who inspire them, Freedom Writers chronicles a true-life story that reduces me to tears. Maybe I’m a sap, but I love tales of teachers who invest themselves in kids that everyone else has written off. They remind me that no one is beyond redemption.

2. Megan Follows, Anne of Avonlea

When the headstrong Anne Shirley takes a teaching post at an upscale all-girls’ finishing school, she’s determined to forge past the prejudices of the snobby community. She accomplishes it through her trademark spunkiness, mischievousness, and downright stubbornness. Who doesn’t cheer when the underdog comes out on top?

3. Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society

No top-teacher roundup would be complete without a nod to the Captain himself. When the unconventional instructor teaches a group of repressed prep school boys how to read poetry and become their own men, women swoon. Carpe diem, baby.

4. Twink Caplan, Clueless

In this loose interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma, Miss Geist is one of those impassioned teachers who motivate her rich, self-absorbed students to get involved in meaningful community service. When the erstwhile dowdy teacher finds love (and inspires her sweetie to go easier on the students), I want to cheer. Nice teachers don’t always finish last.

5. Kevin Kline, The Emperor’s Club

It’s Dead Poets Society at first glance – the elite all-boys’ prep school, the dedicated teacher, the demanding father – but on closer inspection, we see an educator who faces major ethical dilemmas and doesn’t always take the high road. There’s something especially moving about a flawed teacher who still makes a major impact.

6. Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

I love singing along to this flick about a former nightclub singer who agrees to teach music to save a struggling parochial school from closing its doors. Helping her students discover their voices, Whoopi coaches them all the way to the state choir championship. If the students’ renditions of “Joyful, Joyful” and “Oh Happy Day” don’t make you stand up and sing, I don’t know what will.

7. Jon Voight, Conrack

It’s the 1970s, and a young white teacher has the gall to insist that a group of black kids (tykes through teens) be treated as intelligent, valued human beings. (No one had previously taken the time to tell them what country they live in or how to add two and two.) The real-life radical teacher transforms his students into informed citizens who can maintain proper hygiene, swim to survive, and discover the world around them.

8. Charles Xavier, X-Men

The legendary comic book figure starts Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to teach mutants how to explore and control their powers. His goal is to bring about peace between mutants and humans and protect society from antagonistic mutants like Magneto. Helping students embrace their uniqueness and bring peace on Earth? That’s what I call an amazing teacher.

9. Michael Vartan, Never Been Kissed

A hot English teacher who plays hockey in the classroom and hangs out at his students’ favorite clubs gets automatic cool points. And when he demonstrates his willingness to give a deserving student a second chance, he wins our hearts forever.

10.  Christine Lahti, Gross Anatomy

She’s a no-nonsense med school professor who’s got a good reason for insisting that her students see past the diagnosis to the hurting patient. If she can get through to one cocky med student in particular, she should win Teacher of the Year. I wish some of the doctors I’ve visited would take a lesson from this flick.

Who’s your favorite high school teacher or college professor in the movies?

–Robyn Tellefsen

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