In this shorter chapter of Teaching, Learning, and Schooling in Film: Reel Education, the authors discuss the film Monsieur Lazhar and address the tropes movies depict of teachers. They begin by claiming there are three common tropes of teachers in film: teachers as a challenger, a martyr, and as a learner. Despite this, Bashir Lazhar's character is respectfully explored within each context and reveals further underlying concepts of education.
The authors argue that a majority of education film dramas depict teachers as challenging the system in some way. For example, Louanne Johnson in Dangerous Minds and John Keating in Dead Poets Society all address their students and superiors in unexpected and unorthodox ways. In Monsieur Lazhar though, Bashir Lazhar is not challenging the status quo but rather the authors believe his main goal is "supporting the learning and development of the children he teaches" (76). I would argue that Louanne Johnson and John Keating are also supporting the learning and development of their students but their actions have greater consequences among other teachers/administrators. I do not agree with the authors that Bashir does not challenge the status quo. At the end of the movie, he is fired for multiple reasons namely, he lied to his superior about having teaching experience, addressed a difficult concept (death) when specifically asked not to, and also gave hugs to students who needed them when any form of touching is prohibited. Bashir directly challenges the status quo but the way he goes about it is not as demanding or unorthodox compared to other teachers in film. He does actively seek ways to become a better teacher by listening to his coworkers and trying their methods of commanding a class (i.e. counting down from four) but at the same time he wants to connect with his students on a more emotional level.
The authors then argue Bashir is not a martyr. I agree with their statement for Bashir is grieving about the tragic deaths of his entire family alongside with his students about their beloved teacher, Martine. At the beginning of his teaching experience, Bashir could be considered a more conservative teacher due to his change in seating arrangements and the regular practicing of sentence structure. Although, he is somewhat naïve and he does not know how to control his class at all times. His teaching style is realistic and admirable. In the process of learning how to teach, he creates an open and caring environment for his students. The authors argued the environment Bashir created may have potentially been influenced by his own experiences of grief. Despite this, he is not completely self-sacrificing and reveals to his students that he too is human and susceptible to unfortunate events.
In Monsieur Lazhar the common tropes (challenger, martyr, and learner) are explored and questioned. Lazhar is unconventional compared to other teaching film dramas which is refreshing for the audience to watch. It is argued his actions are centered in helping the students but not in a way that seems fake. Due to his own tragic past his is able to connect to his students compared other teachers or psychologists. Unlike the American education system, the authors also argue Monsieur Lazhar does not highlight the unfair ways of testing for accountability. In the American school system, it has become increasingly prevalent to have high-stakes testing in which teachers and policy makers "reduce students to scores" (80). In Monsieur Lazhar, the pressure of standardized testing and policies are not as influential on teachers for there are no conversations about grades. In this way, I believe this is what makes the film so refreshing to watch. Despite its intense beginning, it reveals the humanity within the school system.
In relation to my own schooling, I have heavily experienced the pressure of standardized testing and the increased sense of labeling students to numbers. This increased sense has also increased as my education became more competitive though. When I was young and around the same age as the students in Monsieur Lazhar, my grades and standardized test scores did not affect my understanding of the relationship between my teachers and myself. It wasn't until I reached the time of entering college did test scores start to impact my education for in America, tests scores seem to be equivalent to the education one is worthy of. Now that I am investing time into graduate schools, it has come to my attention that test scores are the determining factor towards admission in better programs. Why is this? I believe it is because of the increase in competition. As the world population increases, it becomes more difficult to be "successful" inside and outside of school. In a perfect world, it would be ideal if schools did not have any form of testing requirements but since there are so many people, testing becomes the most efficient way to understand abilities. In respects to Monsieur Lazhar, teachers and administrators are more focussed on the emotional stability of their students. Of course though, the movie is only offering a snapshot and takes place in a middle school. Despite this, it was refreshing to watch a movie about a teacher who wanted to address emotional instability within his classroom instead of tests.
Irwin DeVitis, L., & DeVitis, J.L. (2015). Monsieur Lazhar: The subversive dance of relationship and the “fierce urgency of now”. In D.P. Liston & I.P. Renga (Eds.) Teaching, learning, and schooling in film: Reel education. New York, NY: Routledge.
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