THE HEART OF THE GAME (2005)
Run Time: 105 minutesSynopsis: What happens when you mix an eccentric tax law professor with Seattle's Roosevelt High's faltering girls' basketball team—a passionate story of athletics, the desire to win, and a reminder of the persistence of sexism in society. This movie includes the unforgettable tale of Darnellia Russell's legal battle to play the game that means everything to her.Reflection:
Gender role stereotyping played a big part in this movie. In what ways were girls gender stereotyped? In what ways were boys gender stereotyped?
Do you think Darnellia Russell should have been allowed to play after she had her baby? Why do boys who father children rarely face penalties or public censure?
How did class and racial differences interfere with the team's performance? How did the coach handle the problem? If these very same differences emerged in your classroom, how would you respond?
Coach Resler created some fairly violent and fearsome animal images to motivate the girls. What was your reaction to such violent images being used as a motivational device? How does the culture of violence commonly associated with boys influence their development?
Follow-up Activity: As you think about this film, recall the description of culturally responsive teaching in this chapter. Now consider the concept of culturally responsive coaching. How did Coach Resler use the three components of culturally responsive teaching in his coaching style?AKEELAH AND THE BEE (2006)
Run Time: 112 minutes Synopsis: Akeelah Anderson, an African American girl from an impoverished South Los Angeles middle school, overcomes adversities at home and school on her path to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Although she initially does what her peers do—hide her intelligence—encouragement from teachers and neighborhood residents, and eventually from her mother, enables Akeelah to realize not only her own potential but the potential in her community. An insightful piece of the film's "hidden curriculum" is how a competition like a National Spelling Bee can be transformed into encouragement of cooperation at home, at school, and across cultures.Reflection:
Should competitions such as spelling or geography bees be an integral part of the curriculum? What were your reactions to competitions in your educational experience?
In what ways did Akeelah benefit from her participation in the spelling bee? How did her school, coach, and community benefit?
What examples of culturally relevant teaching do you see in this film?
Is this movie an example of the concept of "acting white" ("a set of social interactions in which minority adolescents who get good grades in school enjoy less social popularity than white students who do well academically")?
Would you describe the Asian father's presentation more a generalization of a stereotype? Were there other characterizations that stand out?
Follow-up Activity: Various cultural norms emphasize individual achievement. Extracurricular activities, including athletics, typically make winners and losers of us all, too often causing stress, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal stress. In small groups—or as an independent paper—analyze this issue, and see if you can develop appropriate and effective cooperative activities that promote learning and friendship. Can you create a sensitive and supportive learning competition? How will competition and cooperation be implemented in your own classroom? How can schools or teachers incorporate competitions into the curriculum in a culturally sensitive manner? How would you encourage community participation in your classroom?
