SCHOOL TIES (1992)
Run Time: 110 minutes Synopsis: A working-class Jewish quarterback is offered a senior year scholarship to a prestigious New England academy. It's his ticket to an Ivy League education, but there is one condition: The school's administration asks him to hide his religious identity.Reflection:
What is the purpose of education at St. Matthew's Academy, according to the school administration? Teachers? Students? Parents? Alumni? Describe the similarities and differences you discover.
Would the school's mission have been different if David Greene were allowed to express his religious identity? How?
What characteristics, other than religion, do students formally or informally hide in schools?
School choice programs, similar to a private school like St. Matthew's, may be selective about who is admitted to a school. How is a school's purpose reflected in selective inclusion policies?
Who should have the final authority to determine a school's purpose? Who had the ultimate authority in School Ties?
Follow-up Activity: Using words and pictures, create a school logo that reflects St. Matthew's school mission in School Ties. Revisit the Where Do You Stand section in the chapter (pages 135–138). What school goals did you mark as very important? Design a logo that reflects these goals.
