9th grade English. Finals.
I'm not sure if this would have normally been what this teacher did for a final for this class, or if it was a special occasion due to her knowing that she'd be out this week. It was easy for a sub to administer, anyway.
The students were to watch The Wizard of Oz. As they were watching, they were to analyze the film as an example of The Hero's Journey.
But... they whined. It was in black and white. It was old. (I had told them ahead of time what to expect, but they seemed to have heard a different movie.) It was a musical.
They heckled the screen.
I'm sure you remember this scene. If not, fast forward to 2:45 where Dorothy is watching the winds swirl around...
"What drugs is she on?"
I kept my mouth shut. I don't think he had any idea what can of worms he could have opened with that question.
Wow, I'm surprised that some of them hadn't seen the movie already. Such a classic! I think that was a great final myself!
ReplyDeletebetty
Many of them hadn't. Of course, they weren't really open to it, either.
DeleteI know, how can so many not know it already! It's a classic. How sad. And I would have been thrilled to have an exam that consisted of watching a movie!
ReplyDeleteThey'd rather be on their phones. Or talking to their friends.
DeleteIt's surprising that more of them hadn't already seen The Wizard of Oz, but I'm all too familiar with students complaining about watching black and white films. I did a unit once where we watched several black and while films, some musicals. They complained especially loud when I announced we were going to watch a silent, black and white film. But they ended up loving up. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteKids these days:) They seriously have a whole different set of expectations. I watched an old black and white movie with one of my sons once. Once. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd the thing is, black & white films are great. Some of them, anyway. And if they'd just let go of the "this is so old" notion, they might get into it and actually enjoy it.
DeleteWhat drugs is she on - hilarious! Maybe Baum was on drugs when he wrote it.
ReplyDeleteIt is really shocking what kind of freedoms kids are allowed today, I mean speaking out of turn and being undisciplined, thinking they're adults. I blame parents for it and also teachers who need to be taught how to be more strict. We weren't taught that at the college,but I wish we had. At our days of school, you could hear a fly flying in the classroom :)
ReplyDeleteThat used to be my favorite movie when I was little. I can't believe none of them had seen it. But I don't want to go all ranty at them. Things change.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this movie in it's entirety! I know, hard to believe!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't either. Which I am loathe to admit as I am a fantasy aficionado. I'm not sure why it doesn't appeal to me.
DeleteI always fall asleep when the kids are watching it on TV. Where it replays every single year!!
DeleteYeah, I thought I saw it on recently. At some holiday or other.
DeleteHow sad is that! This is a film that everyone I ever have known, has seen. I don't understand and I think I would smack them over their puny heads. I have to snicker at the drugs part
ReplyDeleteI showed my class of nine year olds the movie Oliver Twist when we were learning about the Industrial Revolution. One little boy put on the biggest turn when he realised it was a musical. It was almost like he was in pain. I kept laughing at him because he was carrying on so much. Why do boys hate musicals?
ReplyDeleteI think they have to put on that front, because boys who like musicals tend to be gay. Or at least that's the stereotype.
DeleteI love that movie, and it's all in the interpretation. I once set 'Mean Girls' as part of a film comparative task for a group of Yr 9 Girls - yeh they were mean, they missed the irony.
ReplyDeleteThat's the trick, really. To get them to buy into it.
DeleteKind of sad, really.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is.
DeleteMy protagonist is a high school teacher. I read your posts and I think how off I probably am in capturing his experience. I can only hope readers will be as clueless as I am.
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
Sad. I remember when it was shown every year on TV (this is before cable TV, tapes, DVD's, streaming or anything similar). Nor were movies EVER shown in class. Never! I loved that movie so much! And still do. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWhen we finished the AP test in US history, we spent the rest of the year watching things like Gone with the Wind. And I had an English teacher who did a unit on classic movies (she's the reason I enjoy them now). But they watch more stuff in class nowadays. (The technology makes it easier.)
DeleteMaybe someday they will realize how innovative and ground breaking Wiz of Oz really was.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of... They really wanted me to put on The Wiz...
DeleteI think some of them may go on to become film buffs. Unfortunately, they were in the silent majority.
LOL I'll second the kids these days thought. It's crazy they don't like movie days like that. We used to love them.
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