This is a TV show, not a book or film, but it's worth checking out.

I have recently been watching the current season of "The Wire," a
fictional but grittily real series about inner-city life in Baltimore,
including in the schools, on the streets, in police headquarters, and in
city politics.  The interplay among the characters and their constant
butting of their heads against an intractable bureaucracy is deeply
compelling though often quite bleak, and I can't think of a better
portrayal of the lives and backgrounds of some of our learners.  It
principally follows a group of young African-American boys as they
thread their way among unsupportive school system, police who sometimes
abuse and sometimes nurture them, harsh family situations, and the pull
of the street, gangs, and extreme violence.  It's riveting, and the kids
who are in their early to late teens are brilliantly acted.    "The
Wire," a bad name for a good show,  refers to a wiretap the police use
to try to trap the most brutal gangleaders, who are constantly luring
the young students into the world of the street, murder and deals gone
bad.  

The scenes in the current season focus on the classroom and a new
teacher (and former cop) who works with others in the school to find
ways to reach, retain and educate the most at-risk among the youth.  You
get a close look at the barriers to his doing this, to the kids'
learning and continuing in school at all--and their constant pressure to
fall back into "the life" on the street in gangs and dealing. 

It's on HBO, so you have to have cable, on Thursday nights, at least in
Boston.   You can also get it from Netflicks or from the video store. 
Previous years are nearly as rewarding, but this year focuses on the
classroom so it's especially good.  For any of you who saw "Boys of
Baraka" this year--this is like a continuation, and in a very similar
setting with similar characters, and it's even better.  

Laurie Sheridan


>>> David Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net> 12/14/2006 3:01 PM >>>

Andrea and others,

By "challenging" young adults I meant, school dropouts, returning to  
an alternative education program who have relative little time (for  
example one year) and who may be reading or doing math at an upper  
elementary school level, who may be skeptical about what education  
can do for them but who are willing to give it a second try.  Also,  
because they are still young, they may bring with them some  
adolescent street behavior not appropriate to the learning  
environment.  So films or books about inspiring high school teaching  
might fit the bill, too.

Any suggestions?


David

David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net 


On Dec 14, 2006, at 8:40 AM, Andrea Wilder wrote:


> David, Please define "challenging young adults."

> On Dec 13, 2006, at 9:00 PM, David Rosen wrote:

>

>> Hi Wendy and others,

>>

>> Just to clarify, the book is to inspire the _teachers_ of classes

of

>> challenging young adults.

>>

>> David J. Rosen

>>

>> On Dec 13, 2006, at 8:22 PM, Wendy Quinones wrote:

>>

>>> Two come to mind -- "Dangerous Minds," which is more for high

>>> school age,

>>> and "Educating Rita" which is maybe for older folks.  Both are  

>>> really

>>> inspiring.

>>>

>>> Wendy

>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>> From: "David Rosen" <djrosen1 at comcast.net>

>>> To: "The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List"

>>> <professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>

>>> Cc: "The Women and Literacy Discussion List"  

>>> <womenliteracy at nifl.gov>

>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 6:28 PM

>>> Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 682] A book or movie to inspire

>>> teachers

>>>

>>>

>>>> Colleagues,

>>>>

>>>> I was asked today for a recommendation of a movie or book (such

as

>>>> "Stand and Deliver") which would inspire teachers to have high

>>>> expectations for their young adult students, to give each day  

>>>> 100% to

>>>> their teaching.  What would you recommend?

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> David J. Rosen

>>>> djrosen at comcast.net 

>>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>> National Institute for Literacy

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>>>> Wiki

>>>> http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/ 

>>>> Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development

>>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> ----------------------------------------------------

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>>> Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development

>>

>> David J. Rosen

>> djrosen at comcast.net 

>>

>>

>>

>> ----------------------------------------------------

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>> Adult Literacy Professional Development mailing list

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>> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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>>

>> Professional Development section of the Adult Literacy Education

Wiki

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>> Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development

>>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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> Adult Literacy Professional Development mailing list

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> Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development


David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net 



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