The Ron Clark Story

We've seen it done before. Movie studios churn out inspirational "teacher" films that aim to motivate viewers to become teachers, often resulting in gooey, over-filled buckets of cheese. The list is endless: Dead Poet's Society, Stand and Deliver, Freedom Writers, Dangerous Minds, and NOW The Ron Clark Story. I'm almost certain that there are more to add onto the list, but only a handful have that effective convincing quality that proves to be substantial, rich, and genuinely meaningful.

We have seen an uprise of films dealing with multicultural education, and the inherent challenges that come along with it. Although The Ron Clark Story seems to follow the formulaic concoction of a (white) teacher thrown into a modern, challenging multicultural classroom, the story remains plausible since the film is based on an actual person and inspired by actual events.

We first meet Mr. Ron Clark (Matthew Perry) as a successful, small-town elementary teacher, who, in the beginning of the film, is awarded a school parking stall with his name engraved on the concrete stall for his effective efforts in the classroom. Early on, the film hints that Mr. Clark truly is a genuine character. The film begins with him befriending a little blonde boy standing outside of the classroom in a trash can. The boy has been thrown out of class because the teacher felt that the student belonged in the trash can instead of the classroom. How detestable!

To further enhance that aspect of Mr. Clark's character, the film centers on his adventures of relocating to the Big Apple, New York City. There, he takes a job at a Cleopatra-themed restaurant/bar as a waiter as he tries to further pursue his career in education. He fights for a job at a trouble elementary school in Harlem, bravely taking on the teaching position for a class that's gone through dozens of teachers in the past.

Sure, Mr. Clark's intentions seem genuine and heartfelt, but it was nice to see that the film didn't sugar coat the challenges he faced in the classroom. He went through alot: disrespectful students who aren't afraid to answer back with smart remarks, classroom vandalism, car vandalism, and the works. Shameeka proved to be the most difficult student; she seemed to rule the class, whatever she did, they did.

Still, Mr. Clark's valiant and persistent efforts eventually glimmered through; his neverending efforts to get through to them are greatly memorable: the chocolate milk lesson, the Presidents of the United States rap song, and personally visiting his students' parents. They definitely showcase a variety of qualities that every good teacher should possess.

He definitely wasn't a perfect teacher, but that does not minimize how effective he was in his profession. The struggles he faced in the classroom is meant to symbolize every teacher's inherent struggle in the classroom. No matter how minute or epic, we will face some form of struggle in the classroom. But like Ron Clark, we should remain enthusiastic and positive in everything that we do in and out of the classroom.

The film works, although it sometimes leans more towards the sappy, sentimental cheese of other teacher films, and I definitely bought Matthew Perry as Ron Clark. He definitely portrays a passionate, young man eager to teach, inspire, and mold the minds of the future. I like how he transformed the lives of his students in the multicultural classroom because I definitely related to that. I am a product of the public school system, where multicultural classrooms are the norm. Further more, it is a film worth showing to aspiring teachers as well as to students.