FINDING FORRESTER (2000)
Run Time: 133 minutes Synopsis:Finding Forrester is a telling portrayal of ethics and expectations as an African American teen writing prodigy and star athlete finds a mentor in a reclusive author.Reflection:
What expectations did William Forrester, Dr. Crawford, and Clarie hold for Jamal? What social factors influenced these expectations? Did they change throughout the film. Why or why not?
How would you describe a successful student? An athlete? Did you picture this student as male or female? As a person of color or white? Now imagine that your successful student (and successful athlete) is the opposite sex or another race. Did your description change? What values are embedded in your answer?
As a teacher, how will you confront cheating and plagiarism in your classroom?
What lessons in character did Forrester and Jamal learn from each other?
Follow-up Activity: As part of a character education program, create an Honor Code to help students learn about academic integrity. You may want to consider the following questions: Is your Code a teacher's solo creation or a teacher-student partnership? What aspects of school life (such as bullying, lying, and punctuality) are included in the Code? Who will enforce the Code, and what are the rewards and punishments? What values will students learn from following (or breaking) the Honor Code?
