The Ron Clark Story (2006) - full transcript
1998. Ron Clark, still relatively early in his career, leaves his stable life teaching at an elementary school in his suburban North Carolina hometown, the school where he is appreciated by both his fellow teachers and his students for his innovative teaching methods which results in raising test scores. Instead, he decides to look for a teaching job at a tough New York inner city school where he feels he can be more useful. He eventually finds a job at Inner Harlem Elementary School, where the students are segregated according to their potential. As Clark is white and "nice" looking, Principal Turner wants to assign him to the honors class, especially as Turner's job security depends on good test scores. Clark, however, wants to take the most disadvantaged class. He quickly learns that it will be a battle of wills between himself and his disruptive students to see who can outlast the other. But he also learns that he has to understand them, both individually and collectively, on their level to be able to get through to them before he can teach them the standardized materials. But even the best laid plans can be turned askew by unforeseen events, such as illness and the behavior of others outside of his control. And he has to overcome the self-fulfilling prophecy of failure to instill a sense of worth within the students. Through it all, he is supported by Marissa Vega, the beautiful waitress at the restaurant where he works part-time.
- Ron Clark.
Ready for your first day?
- Yes, ma'am.
- I'll be with you in a minute
and I'll introduce you
to your class.
- Hi.
What happened to you?
- Teacher says I can't learn,
so I should go out
with the trash.
- Okay, settle down.
Let's get out our
silent reading.
- I'm Mr. Clark.
What's your name?
- Hadley Craig.
- Nice to meet you.
Uh, you know, I'm so sorry.
I'm so forgetful.
What's my name again?
- It's Mr. Clark.
- Oh, see?
You just learned something.
Let's get you out of there.
- Mr. Clark?
- Yeah.
- Is you gonna be our
new teacher?
- Alan, no whispering.
- Get the chairs!
- My hair!
- Get the Jell-O!
- Bill, grab
the other table.
- We'll arrive at Swan
quarter by 5:00,
like we always do.
Pick up the shrimp bait
at the general store
like we always do, and
hop the ferry over
to Ocracoke island for
some fine flounder fishing.
- Like we always do.
- Well, folks, it's not quite
the end of the year summer
celebration we expected,
but let's take a moment to
thank our own Mr. Clark,
whose fifth grade class
tested number one
in Beaufort County for
the fourth year in a row!
We have a surprise that we
have put together for you.
Unfortunately, it's outside.
- Oh, man!
- We all know Mr.
Clark began here
as a temporary teacher.
Well, we've all chipped
in on something
to help him feel more permanent.
- Aww.
- I love it here,
but I've got to move on, mom,
before they use that
parking space for my grave.
New York public schools
are desperate for good teachers.
The newspaper says
they're beggin' for them.
Dad, every year, I
tell my students
to go for what they
want in life.
Dream big, take risks.
It's time I started
living up to my own words.
I'm gonna miss you guys,
but I gotta go.
- We understand, sweetie.
Good-bye.
People get killed in New York.
- This is
radio Roanoke,
where the sun is shining
and the temperature
is 78 degrees.
♪ And the night sounds
start to whisper ♪
- News
and sports in 5, Baltimore,
but now let's get ready
to rock n' roll
with the Smokin' Red...
That was the Mellow Midnight
voice of Johnny Hartman.
This is WNYC in New York City.
Next up, something cool
on a hot night.
- Come on, pal, get
outta the way!
- Okay, sir...
- Come on! I'm tryin'
to park here!
- Rent's due at 10.
Cash only.
Checkout's at 11:30.
- Okay, this is great.
And, uh, what's your name?
- Y'landa.
- Thank you, Y'landa.
Hi!
Ah, New York.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Y'landa, good morning.
Do you have a list of the
public schools in Harlem?
- Sure I do, baby.
- Okay, thank you.
- Why you want school
listings for?
- I'm a teacher.
- And you wanna teach?
Up in Harlem?
- Yes.
- Well, then, honey, you
gonna need something else.
Personal injury lawyers.
'Cause once your white
behind goes on up in there,
they'll be carrying you back out
the same way you went in.
What kind of
foolishness is this?
Goin' on up there to Harlem,
tryin'
to teach.
You know you ain't gonna get...
- Okay, thank you.
- Taxi!
Right here.
- It's this way, son.
- Thank you so much
for coming in.
- You're welcome.
If you could just look
at my resume?
- I apologize.
We just don't have a
position available.
- Yeah, but all my kids
tested above grade level.
- I'm sure they did.
And good luck to you.
- Ma'am, you
forgot your purse.
- Thank you,
dinner was great.
- You're welcome.
Thanks.
- So, my merry men and ladies,
let us steal from the rich
and help a poor, brave waiter go
henceforth into the kitchen
and command your dinners.
- Nice hat.
It distracts the customers
from that accent.
- Hey, watch out.
I got a bow and arrow.
- What show are you in?
Everybody works here
is an actor.
- I'm a teacher.
- You are gonna change before
your first class, right?
- Very funny.
How about you?
- Me? Oh, I'm taking a
break from acting.
The Cleopatra gig is
very challenging.
- Hey, who's that?
- That's the queen of Egypt.
In love with Mark Antony.
- No, I...
I mean, uh, who is that?
- Marissa.
And she's even more
beautiful out of costume.
I'm Jason.
Otherwise known as Mark Antony.
- Sorry.
- It happens all the time, bro.
Don't sweat it.
- Table five
sent it back!
- Get back in that classroom!
Hey! Hey!
Come on, you little...
Hey, come on, man!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Enough!
- Tayshawn Mitchell,
my office now!
I'm not playin' with ya, son.
- I ain't no son.
- Mr. Solis, what the
hell was that?
That boy is your student.
- Not anymore.
- Hey, you walk away,
you stay away.
- You can have the
little bastards.
- I could start right now.
- Heh.
Heh.
You're lucky you got detention
and not an assault charge.
- Hello, I'm Ron Clark.
I wanted to let you know
I taught sixth grade
for four years
in North Carolina.
You need a teacher,
I need a job,
so let's help each other out.
- Mr. Clark, I'm sure
you're very sincere,
but I'm afraid you
might be a little too...
- Too what?
Too white? Too tall? Too ugly?
- Nice.
- I specialize in raising
standardized test scores.
- This is the honors class.
These students scored
in the top 10 percentile
on the state exams every year.
We divide each grade
into four classes
according to their
achievement scores.
- What about this class?
- This class tested
at the bottom
of the entire New York
city school district.
- They do seem a little
bit squirrelly.
- Oh, they're a bit more
than squirrelly.
These students have problems
with learning, discipline,
social skills.
Like Tayshawn Mitchell.
Two strikes going on three
towards the juvenile
detention center.
- I'm your man.
- I have an opening
in grade three.
If your credentials check out...
- Hey, you have an
opening right here.
- No.
Last year, this class
went through
six different teachers
before Christmas.
- Yes, nobody wants them, and
I do, so what's the problem?
- Test scores are very
important to me.
It's how I keep my job.
- I can start right now.
- You can start on Monday.
State exams are in May.
- You are out of control!
- Yo, man!
- Let's come
back here tomorrow.
I think she liked me.
High-five, bro.
- On a break.
$200 bucks and nothing!
Jeez, you should have
heard them in there!
Oh, Cleo, we got your
snake right here.
And then they just stiff me!
- Want half?
- Yeah, sure.
You're a teacher, Clark.
What is it?
I mean, why don't guys grow up?
- Ooh, I'm afraid my
level of expertise
expires at the sixth grade.
- You got a job?
- Inner Harlem Elementary.
I'm gonna start meeting
my kids tomorrow.
- Uh, you might want to
hold on to this.
It may be your last meal.
- Nah, they're gonna love me.
I like to meet all the
parents, Ms. Vazquez,
before I start teaching.
- Julio?
- To get them involved, uh...
- Julio!
Damn it.
Where is he?
He a clown, Mr. Clark,
but he's a good boy.
I had him when I was only 14.
- That's okay.
Like- like I was saying...
- What?
- I was just saying
you can help out by working
with Julio every night
on his homework.
- Sure, okay.
- Together, we can get him
excited about learning.
American history.
Solar system, pre-algebra.
I just want Julio
to achieve his full potential.
- So, Mr. Clark
are you married?
- No.
It's very nice to meet
you all today.
You know, I've never had a
student from India before.
How do you pronounce your name?
- Bad-rl-yah.
I like to read, especially--
- Quiet, Larki.
Men are talking, okay?
♪ What's that
♪ What's that
♪ They don't need
- Shameika Wallace?
I'm Mr. Clark, your new teacher.
I called earlier.
- It's Saturday, fool.
- Shameika, who is it?
- Nobody.
- Oh, are those your brothers?
- No, they're my kids.
I'm 12 years old, and I
got three kids.
- Who are you talkin' to?
- I'm Mr. Clark,
Shameika's new teacher.
- What the hell happened to Mr.
Solis?
- Fool quit.
- He's wet.
I swear to god, you teachers
come in and out of the school.
- Yeah, I know that.
That- that's why I'm here.
I was hoping you would
work with me.
- I already got a job, mister.
I got two jobs and four kids
and a brother on parole.
I'm late for work.
♪ Test it, gonna make a
man out of you ♪
♪ Yeah I get you to scream and
♪ Demandin' respect
with a left ♪
♪ How can I respect you
♪ Get another hand
on my rhymes ♪
♪ Makin' you drop
♪ This other dawg,
♪ Here's another shot
to the soul ♪
♪ Tell me what can I do
at 13 years old ♪
♪ Gonna lay your hand
on my child ♪
♪ Go on come and get me
♪ But by then, I come
crunk wild style ♪
♪ And then I try to hold
the kids back ♪
♪ 'Cause they gave me
satisfaction ♪
♪ To hear me askin' and bangin' ♪
♪ Please, drop down
on your knees ♪
♪ And you knowin' that it's
♪ Gonna be a while
with the demon ♪
♪ But you can never get,
♪ So can bet that I'm comin'
♪ To make a man out of you yet
♪ Shadowboxer
♪ Just a shadowboxer
- Punk ass!
♪ Just a shadowboxer
- Hey, that's enough.
- Morning.
Get moving.
- Nice to see you, Tayshawn.
- Morning,
principal Turner.
- Okay good morning.
Oh! Hello.
I'm Ron Clark.
I guess I'll be teaching...
- Yo, dream big about what?
Big butts?
- Dreamin' 'bout your mama.
- Oh!
- Take your seats.
- Yo, teacher.
Shameika's feeling sick today.
- Yeah, sick of damn teachers.
- Tell him, chica!
- Okay, because this is
our first day,
I have a surprise
for all of you.
- What?
- I'll tell you, Julio,
if you turn around.
Today, there will be
no schoolwork.
Shameika, don't do that.
Shameika, don't.
- Or what?
What are you gonna do?
Suspend me?
Go ahead, suspend me.
I wanna leave!
- We all
wanna leave.
Me, too.
- Hey, look, the fool's leavin'
already.
- Sit down.
You see this?
This means that this year
is going to be different.
This year is going to be
about more than school.
This year, we are going
to be a family.
- But you don't look nothin'
like me.
- I'm going to be your family,
and you are going to
be my family,
and that means that I
am not leaving,
and you are not leaving.
- You have any lip gloss?
- Yeah.
- What the hell?
- Come on what?
- Ohh!
- Whoa.
- Nasty.
- Well, what do you think?
- We think it looks stupid.
- Who vandalized this room?
- I did, sir.
- Mr. Clark, this sort of stunt
may have gone over
big in Aurora,
but it doesn't work for me.
My school, my rules, my way.
- Ooh.
- Lunch!
- All right, I need... ohh!
Put your gum in here.
Gum in here.
- Hurry up!
- All the gum in this jar,
the gum jar.
Come on.
Come on.
- I'm starving.
- Right in here.
Hey, no, I see you, come on.
Right in there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- Okay, to your left.
Left.
More left.
- They're just testing you.
They want to see if
you really care.
- See if I care?
They weren't even looking at me.
Well, one of them was,
but I think he was picturing
me in a dark alley.
We have to turn this...
- Ow!
Ow! Ow!
- Do these legs come off?
- All right.
I think it looks good
right there.
You know, school's
supposed to be exciting.
- Okay.
Now you sound like one of
those dumb-ass commercials
that used to come on after
cartoons on Saturday morning.
- So, what?
You didn't like school?
- School sucked.
I hated it.
- Yeah, well, if I was
your teacher,
you would have loved it.
- Ron, just relax.
Step away from the table.
- Yeah, that's what I was doing.
So, now that you helped me move,
I guess I have to be your
drive-you-to-the-airport,
feed-your-fish,
never-forget-your-birthday
kind of friend.
- Uh, not to mention my
cover-my-weekend-shift
because I'm going to
L.A. with Jason's friend.
He's going to meet
some producers.
You know, he's trying to get
on a daytime heartthrob thing.
- So, how long you two
been going out?
Almost two years.
- Oh.
- I mean, we're not living
together or anything.
He's busy, I'm busy.
But it's good.
- Yeah, it sounds good.
- All right, well, we got
three hours before our shift.
Who's hungry?
- Oh, so, you're a union mover.
This is gonna cost me a pizza,
huh?
Can I have your attention,
please?
Before we start today,
I would like to
go over three rules
for this class.
If you follow them,
we will all have a lot of fun.
- Yeah right.
- If you do not follow them,
there will be consequences.
- Ooh!
- You all remember
rule number one,
we are a family.
- Give me a damn break, man.
- We're not in kindergarten!
- That means we help
each other out,
we stand up for each other,
we defend each other.
Rule number two, we
respect each other.
Hey, you will call me sir.
Not man, not dawg, not fool.
If you are asked a question,
you will say yes, sir or no,
sir.
Not yep, nope, uh-uh, nuh-uh.
- Uh, nuh-uh, fool.
- Respect, Julio Vazquez.
You will not talk unless
I call on you.
If I am talking, you
are listening
with your eyes right here.
Rule number three,
we will form a line to
enter and exit class
and go to lunch.
- Come on!
- Are you kidding me?
- Shameika.
- What?
- What, sir?
Oh, Shameika, thank you.
- For what?
Reminding me about
rule number four.
No smacking of lips and
rolling of the eyes.
If you break one of these rules,
your name will go up
on the board.
- So stupid!
- If you break another rule,
you will get a check.
- Come on.
- If you break a third rule...
- Oh!
- Hey.
- Hi.
- What you reading?
- Nothing.
- Oh, I didn't read that
book till high school.
- You figure that,
by seventh, man, the
odds are 10 to 1.
That's big bucks, man.
That's big bucks!
- What's Julio doing?
- Say, man, I
don't know why
you're going for the 24th.
- Taking bets
on you.
- On me?
- When you're gonna quit.
- My sister say he's
gonna be gone by Friday.
- Gambling is illegal,
especially when you're 12.
And by the way, I'm not leaving.
- Yo, come on, dawg!
How am I supposed to make
some paper around here?
- Boy, something smells
really good in here.
Could I ask a favor
of you ladies?
I just wanted to, uh, know if...
Dr. King talked about justice
rollin' down like waters.
Here, pass these around, guys,
and righteousness like a
mighty stream.
It's like on a hot day
when you go outside,
and whoosh! somebody
opens up a fire hydrant,
and there's water streaming
all over the place!
And everybody's running
around and going crazy.
That's what Dr. King
wanted justice
and freedom to feel like.
So, tonight, after we've
gone over Dr. King's speech,
I want you all to
start a journal
about your dreams and
aspirations.
- Hey, man, it's locked!
What's up?
- Rule number three,
we all line up
to go to the lunch room.
- You know what?
Here's my rule.
I ain't standin' in no line.
- Oh, okay, Shameika.
But because we are all a family,
if one of us doesn't get
in line for the lunch room,
then none of us gets lunch.
- I'm starving!
- Mr. Clark!
We're starving!
- Shameika, just do it.
- Yeah.
- Very quietly, two lines
right up against the wall.
That's good.
That's good.
Nice and quiet.
Oh, looks like
somebody's not hungry.
Stop fighting, let's go.
No talking.
And stop.
Shameika, did you cut in line?
- No, sir, I did not.
- You do know that I have eyes
in the back of my head, right?
- I was here, ask her.
- Stupid.
- All right, we're all
gonna stand here
until Shameika decides to
tell the truth.
- Come on, Mr. Clark!
- I didn't cut in no line!
- Hey, you're in Mr.
Clark's class, no food.
- Huh?
- Yo, come on, Mr.
Clark, I'm starving, man!
I'm about to faint, I'm fallin'
down...
- Julio, get to the
back of the line.
And take that hat off.
It's up to you whether
we eat or not.
Shameika, this is a family,
and families treat each
other with respect.
They never, ever, lie
to one another.
Did you cut in line?
- Come on, Meka!
Come on, let's go!
- We are all just waiting
on you.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
Now, what is rule number five?
- No cutting in line.
- That's right, now go eat.
- About time!
- I'm proud of you.
- Thanks a lot, Shameika.
- Thanks for nothing.
- I'm starving now.
- Uh huh.
Yes, mom, I miss you, too.
Yeah, I know there's a
job for me back home,
but, uh, things are going
very well here.
Well, it took the kids a
little while to warm up to me.
Yeah.
Honestly, we're
getting along great.
I want you all to take
a good look around at
your new, clean room.
- Whatever.
- I'm not going to ask
who wrecked it.
Eyes right here.
I was hoping we could
have fun this year,
and I think that we still can,
but only after you learn
to follow all of my rules.
And you will follow
all of my rules.
- First of all, he a freak.
Take your seats, call me sir.
- Too many damn rules, man.
Telling us how to do
this and do that,
making us walk around
in a damn line.
- He ain't my daddy.
- He could be your daddy.
You don't know.
- You should talk, girl.
- Excuse me.
- Shut up.
All I'm saying is, this
is our school, all right?
We do what we wanna.
- Yeah, 'cause he's just
gonna leave anyways.
- That's what you said
last week, girl.
He's still here.
- You wait, he going.
- I hope not.
- What?
- I like Mr. Clark.
That's 'cause you from a
foreign country,
and you don't know
how we do here.
- How do we do?
- Do like us, baby.
You want to be like us,
you gotta do like we do.
Come on.
♪ Yo, yo, let's go, let's go
♪ Yo, yo, let's go, let's go
♪ Hey, hey, Ron Clark,
let's go ♪
♪ Hey, hey, Ron Clark,
let's go ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo
♪ Strawberry shortcake
♪ Cream on top
♪ Tell me the name of
your sweetheart ♪
♪ Is it A
♪ B, C, D, E
- That's really good.
Shameika, you're really
good at this!
- Hey! Hey!
Go to your seat!
- Come here.
- What?
Yeah, go to your room, Julio!
- Hey, who's talking to you?
- Was I talking to you?
You gonna hit me?
- No.
But you did break
rule number two.
You gonna hit me, sir?
- Hey, get off me, dawg!
You think that's funny?
- Shameika, you're in charge.
- What?
- Tayshawn!
Okay, don't do this! Hey!
Okay, I know you have
two strikes.
You walk out now, they'll
expel you for sure.
Just get back in there.
- Why?
Because I would miss
your glowing personality.
Mr. Turner doesn't have to
know anything about this.
Just
give yourself another chance.
- Hey, you still cool
with helping me
move to my new
address on Saturday?
- Yes, definitely.
I mean, Jason would help,
but you've got the fly blue car,
so...
- This is supposed to
be well done.
- It is well done.
- What are you talking about?
It's rare.
- Fine, I'll burn it.
Just take out the rest
of the order.
- I know how to do my job.
- Congratulations.
- On what?
- Officially becoming
a New Yorker.
- You ready?
- Oh, yeah, babe, I'll
be right there.
- Well, you better go.
- Hey!
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Don't forget the parsley.
- Thank you.
Raquel Arenas.
Raquel, do you have
your journal?
- Mm-mmm.
- Alita Sanchez?
Shameika Wallace?
Shameika, did you bring
your Dr. King journal?
- Nope.
Got no dreams to keep.
- Badriyah?
Julio Vazquez?
- Sorry, I couldn't get to it,
boss.
- Why are you all doing this?
- Got better things to do, yo.
Oops, my bad.
Forgot to say, yo, sir.
Guess I get a check.
- You want to get a detention?
- Yo, I really, really
like your nail polish.
- Thank you, my mama bought it.
- Look at me when I talk to you.
- My double bad.
Another check.
- Look at me when I talk to you!
- Go to hell!
- You win.
- You did it, girl!
- Bounce!
Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce.
- Hey!
What happened?
Why aren't you in school, kid?
- I don't want to talk about it.
Just show me New York.
I've been here for 3 months,
I haven't seen a damn thing.
- Today?
All right, let's go see
some damn things.
- You know,
when I was a kid,
I used to call it the
entire state building.
- That's cute.
Okay, you know what?
We walked the entire
island in a monsoon.
I bought you three
pretzels and two hot dogs.
Now you're gonna do
something for me.
- Anything.
- Tell me what happened.
- I shook a desk with a
12-year-old kid in it.
I wanted to throw it, and her,
right out the window.
- Well, they've seen that
kind of anger before.
- Well, not from me.
I, I totally lost it.
- What, you felt helpless?
They feel that way every day.
These kids can do anything
I'm asking them to do, more.
They just won't.
So today I gave up.
- Don't give up, Ron.
- Oh, yeah?
How long has it been
since you've auditioned?
- I don't know.
Two years and seven months.
What? Broadway's not
gonna miss me if I'm gone.
Those kids, they'll miss you.
Maybe you can be that one guy
that turns it around for them.
- Mr. Clark was crazy
man on Friday, you know?
I think he's gone for good.
I say we should just
all go home.
- Think so?
- Yeah.
- Well, thanks for your advice,
son,
but if Mr. Clark isn't
in his class,
I'm sure we can find
someone to cover for him.
- Why we gotta do that?
- Good morning, Julio.
Mr. Turner.
- Fool came back.
- Fool did, indeed.
- What's he doing?
- He's crazy!
- Everybody take a look around.
Within these four walls,
you can be strangers,
or you can be a family.
Within these four walls
can be the end of your story,
or you can make it a beginning.
A beginning that is better
than anything you ever
imagined possible.
Since I got here, you have
not listened to me once.
- Yeah.
- So, here's the deal.
Today we are going to
learn grammar.
If you are quiet and you listen,
every 15 seconds,
I will drink a chocolate milk.
If you can do it,
you may get to see me puke.
So, do we have a deal?
- Yeah!
- Okay, good.
Julio?
- Yes?
- This is not for you to eat.
I want you to watch the clock,
and every 15 seconds,
bang the jar with the ruler,
like that.
- All right.
- When I hear the gong,
I will slam down one of these.
The time starts now.
Every sentence
has a subject
and a verb.
- What the hell's a boomerang?
- Shut up, Alita!
- I guess you guys don't
want to see me
drink all the chocolate milk!
The verb expresses action
in the sentence.
In this sentence...
- Chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug, chug,
chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug, chug,
chug.
- Uh-oh!
Aw, come on!
Come on, come on!
- Whoa.
- Chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug!
- Now, can anybody
tell me the verb
in this sentence?
- Feels?
- Yes, yes!
- You gonna puke now, Mr. Clark?
- Yes!
- Yeah, come on.
You're good.
Keep going.
- Hey, can you guys
teach me how to do that?
Oh, you don't think I
can learn how to do that?
- No!
- Okay, all right, I'll
make you a deal.
If I learn how to Double-Dutch,
then you guys gotta
learn something from me.
- What?
- Everything you need to know
for the seventh grade.
- Is he for real?
- All right.
So, you gonna jump?
- Yeah.
Okay, okay, okay, can you just
go a little slower?
- Nuh-uh.
You gotta do like we do.
- Okay.
All right, all right.
- Ready, set, go.
Come on, man.
You're ain't dancin',
you're jumpin'.
Aw, come on, now.
- Almost had it that time.
- Hey.
Hey, Mr.Turner, this is fun!
- You really think
it appropriate
to do this with the students?
- Well, I'm certainly not
gonna Double-Dutch with you.
- These kids are at the
bottom of the barrel.
- Don't talk about
them like that.
- Now all I'm asking is
for your students to pass.
- Oh, every one of my
students will pass.
- What?
- I'm not going to pass.
- Good.
They've become somebody
else's problem.
- The problem isn't the kids.
It's not even what
they can achieve.
The problem is what you
expect them to achieve.
You are setting the bar here.
Why?
Set it up here, they
can make it.
- This community judges
us by scores.
Government funding
judges us by scores.
People who give me scores,
they get my respect.
Okay, good, in May,
they'll all test at grade level.
- I don't see how
that's possible.
- Oh, I'm sorry, did I
say grade level?
I meant above grade level.
Every single one of
those kids in that class
just wants your respect.
Hell, I want your respect.
- You want my respect?
Stop acting like a 12-year-old.
I always wanted to go
rock climbing.
But there I was, on
the edge of this cliff,
ropes on me,
and my friends are yelling,
"jump, jump, jump!"
And I looked down
and it is a long way down.
So, I'm on the cliff
and I'm yelling,
"I can't, I can't, I can't."
And my friends are yelling,
"yes, you can, you can do it!
"Jump! Jump! Jump!"
And I did.
I thought I was going to die,
but when I jumped out,
it felt like I was flying.
I did something that I
never thought I could do.
And it was pretty cool.
Now you guys may not know this,
but in this classroom
we're rock climbing every day.
We are climbing up
and up and up.
And we are there,
and now it's time to jump.
I know you're scared.
But I want you to do it.
I want you to jump.
I want you guys to feel
what it's like to fly.
So, I want each of you
to come up here,
and light one of these candles.
Okay, come on up, guys.
And when you light a candle
it symbolizes that we are
joined together.
And if you trust me
you can learn more than
you ever dreamed of,
and that's a promise.
The revolutionary war.
Industrialism.
The civil war.
The civil rights movement.
I want you all to get
the great big picture
of American history.
That's why, this year,
we're going to learn
all 42 presidents of the
United States, in order.
No no no, once you know
the presidents,
it'll be easy to remember
what and when.
Come on.
None of you passed the test
and there's going to
be punishment.
I want you to pass
these all around.
♪ Now let's get down to
some presidential learnin' ♪
♪ We'll start with
George Washington ♪
♪ Straight from Mount Vernon
♪ The first president
and commander-in-chief ♪
♪ Fought the revolutionary war
♪ So we could be free
♪ John Adams was second
♪ Thomas Jefferson third
♪ When we fought for
independence ♪
♪ Their voices were heard
♪ When in the course of
human events ♪
♪ We took a stand
♪ And we've been doin'
it since ♪
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ All right, all right,
♪ Okay okay
- All right,
back to your seats.
Back, back, back to your seats.
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ All right, all right,
♪ Okay okay
R to the O to the izzle.
R to the O to the nizzle.
R to rizzle.
R to the O to the...
Ra-kizzle.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark.
- Here you go.
- This is my first "A"
- Hey, good job!
- Shameik-izzle.
- Thank you, Mr.
Clark.
- Yo, man, I told you.
- You got an A too!
- Now, give it up for
your sizzle selves.
It's okay to be proud of
yourself
for doing well on a test.
- Come on, let's go.
Oh, my god...
My luck is number 13.
- Can you hold up for a minute?
I wanted to ask a favor of you.
- Me?
- Could you empty your pockets,
please?
- I believe this constitutes
an illegal search, sir.
- Right on the desk.
That morning at your house,
your mother's purse...
- Nah, see, you got
it all wrong.
Me and her have this deal,
you know,
I take care of her, and
she takes care of me.
You see?
- No, I don't.
- Bet you about to tell
me that crime doesn't pay.
- Sometimes it costs.
And in this case, three
one-hour study sessions with me.
- I mean, for real,
you should be
workin' for us, little brother.
See, make yourself some
easy money, right?
- I already got enough trouble.
The man don't care about no kid.
He's too busy to take you
down Tay, I'm tellin' you.
- Tayshawn!
- He a 5-0 or somethin'?
What's up?
- Nah, nah, man, he
ain't no police.
He just, uh, some fool, man.
I'll handle him.
Don't worry, y'all.
Be back.
It is so fool, and it
is such a problem later.
- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm cool.
- I wanted to bring you this.
Here.
You could bring up your
math and English
with some extra help.
Tomorrow's Saturday.
I could meet you at the
coffee shop by the school.
I'll buy you lunch.
I'll be there at noon.
Noon.
- Can I
take that now?
- Oh yeah thank you.
- Too bad he
didn't show up.
Here I am, not even 2:00.
I'm early, sir.
Down for study
session numero tres.
Okay, let me get three
cards up on the fly.
And then we get another
two cards up.
- Okay, so that's five cards up.
Can you add those up for me?
- You know, we gotta bet first.
- I bet 5 fake dollars.
- Well I'll call,
and that's 36.
- That's good.
Now what's the square
root of that?
Uh, oh, square root.
Okay, I think the square
root is
- What number, multiplied
by itself, gives you 36?
- Uh, six?
- That's good.
- So, what you got?
- Pair of 7's.
- Well, I guess I get
all the chips.
Because I got three 10's.
Oh, pay up, dog!
Wanna go again?
- Yeah sure guy!
Shameika Wallace?
Didn't we have an appointment
after school today?
- Must of slipped my mind.
- We have to talk about you
turning in your homework.
- I told you,
the fire alarm keeps
going off in my building.
- Three times this week?
- I get busy, forget.
Last night I just didn't
do a good enough job.
- Would you like to show
me your homework?
I'm sure I can help you with it.
This is really close.
We can fix this.
- Yeah?
For reals?
- Sure, we can work on
it right now.
There's a few spelling mistakes.
And just arrange some of the
paragraphs different, yeah.
- He's been cranky and
fussy all day.
I think maybe he's got a fever.
- Okay.
Thank you, Mrs. Benton.
Mr. Clark, I can't work
on my paper right now.
I gotta go make dinner.
- I'll do it.
- You'll do what?
- I'll make dinner, and
you work on your paper.
- Okay?
- Okay.
- Start with that
third paragraph.
Hi.
Okay, where's the food?
Dinner's served.
- I'm tryin' to concentrate.
- Concentrate later,
dinner's served.
- I tried like you said.
I moved the third paragraph,
and it sounds really good.
- Okay.
Now, that's for you.
And who gets the baby food?
- He does.
- Okay, you're
gonna like this.
This looks really good.
- What's he doing here?
- He made us dinner.
- You don't think I can take
care of my family, Mr. Clark?
- No, yes.
- Please, leave my house.
I come home to find him
in my kitchen
cooking for my family.
This girl has a job to do.
- Ms. Wallace, can we please
not talk about Shameika
like she's not in the room?
- I'll talk any way I want.
Now, I send my daughter
to school to be educated.
I don't expect a teacher to
bring school up in my house.
- It's called homework.
- Excuse me?
- She has too much of it
to be babysitting all the time.
- Mr. Clark.
- Shameika has more potential
than any kid in my class.
Why can't you see that?
- How dare you!
How you going to tell
me what I should
and should not see in
my daughter?
- I am merely suggesting
that you give her a chance.
- I'm taking my child home now.
The white tornado here
better not be teaching
at this school
when I bring her back tomorrow.
- Ms. Wallace, I can assure you
I will deal with the situation.
- Come on, Shameika.
- Please don't fire, Mr. Clark!
He was just trying to help me,
mama.
He's just trying to help.
- That's- that's okay.
- Please don't leave
because of me, Mr. Clark.
- Ms. Wallace, wait.
- I'll meet you outside.
Why are you doing this?
You gave her these grand ideas,
and this world is just
going to crush her down.
- I don't believe that.
So, you're just going
to drop into her life,
and now you know all about it,
right?
- I just know she's a
great student,
a born leader.
Creative, intelligent.
- Shameika?
My Shameika?
- Yes.
If she tests well enough in May,
I think we might be able to
get her into Manhattan West
for middle school.
- That's for gifted kids.
Maybe Mrs. Benton can
keep the boys
a little longer every day.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Good morning, Mr. Clark.
- Good morning.
- Morning, Mr. Clark.
- Julio, did you do this?
- Good morning Mr.
Clark.
- You like it, Mr. Clark?
- It's really good.
You got quite a talent for this.
- Well, it's one of my manys,
dawg.
Sir.
- Thanks.
Good morning.
- Yo, what up, Tay?
- Do you like me, Mr. Clark?
- Hey, don't hate on
me 'cause I got skills.
- Skills?
You mean being a
straight up punk?
You real good at that!
- Yo, come on, Tay,
just chill out.
- You telling me to chill,
homey?
You telling me to chill?
- Come on, man, I mean,
Mr. Clark likes that art crap,
okay?
So, he thought I did it,
and I just went with it.
- Superintendent
Stevens has joined us
to determine if Tayshawn
Mitchell should be expelled
from Inner Harlem Elementary.
- I vote yes.
Send him to Juvi.
- This isn't a democracy, Mr.
Brampton.
- Howard, would you let Mr.
Turner
finish what he was saying?
- You're his foster parent.
You got the say here.
We don't need his lazy ass
around the house all day.
- What did you just say?
Look, if we expel him,
he's only going
to fall further behind.
- Mr. Clark, our
students can't simply
do what they want with
no consequences.
- What about the
consequences for Tayshawn?
We are supposed to be
keeping these kids in school.
- Let's all just take
a step back.
- Remember that I have eyes
in the back of my head,
so, stop fighting.
This is not a test.
This is my phone number.
I want you guys to call me
if you have any questions
about homework,
need any advice, or you
are in trouble.
That's 24/7.
Pick up your math workbooks
at the front of the class.
And we have a book report
due tomorrow.
Remember, there are two
variables in this equation.
Okay, so X equals?
X- X equals?
Come on, Tayshawn,
you can do this.
- Yo, not with you all up on me,
man!
- Yeah.
- X equals 3/8!
- Yes!
Ah, that's great.
Just keep doing it like that.
- This doesn't sound good.
How long you been this way?
- A week, maybe more.
- Well, you have pneumonia.
I can send you home, but
you'd be confined
to bed rest for 2 weeks,
minimum.
- You know, I can't, I
can't do that.
- Or I can admit you
to the hospital
right now, Mr. Clark.
- Okay, everybody,
take your seats.
- Mr. Clark, you look
really white.
- Yeah, even more than usual.
- We have four ,
four weeks.
Now I know that doesn't
seem like a lot of time,
but if we work really hard,
I know we're going to
do great on these exams.
So, let's go over our science
topics from last week.
Who knows those?
- Magnetism, chemical
reactions, and gravity.
- Okay, good.
Gravity.
Gravity
is important because
- Okay, we get it, Mr. Clark.
Gravity makes you fall down.
- Is he kidding?
- He's always joking.
Mr. Clark?
- He not kidding!
Mr. Clark?
- I hope he's all right.
- Is it good?
Are you on me?
- Yeah.
- Very nice of Jason to
let me borrow the camera.
- Oh, he's happy to help.
How much are we taping?
- Four hours.
- Four hours?
Everyday?
- Yeah, the kids need it.
It'll go quick.
- For you.
- Hey, Mariss...
Thank you.
- Wait, come over here.
Can't have our Mr. Clark
looking all sloppy now, can we?
- You know, a guy could
get used to this.
- Come on, teach already.
- Okay, now just because
I'm on this video tape,
doesn't mean that I
can't see you.
Alita, is that gum?
All right, is everybody ready?
- Yes, sir.
- Gravity,
the force of attraction
between two objects.
That is gravity.
Now, according to the
definition of gravity,
why did the egg fall?
- Because--
- And no, Julio, it's not
because the egg
and the floor are hot
for each other.
- Turn around and face me.
The egg fell because the
force of the mass
and the distance between
the egg and the floor
caused a reaction.
Okay now, get out
your workbooks,
because I have to
clean my floor.
- Morning, Mr. Clark!
- Good morning, Tisha.
Got my kids' homework?
- Good to have you back.
- That's not true.
- Yes, it is, I want my CD back
and my money, bitch.
- Stupid, I
gave that CD back!
- No, you didn't!
- Yes, I did!
You always do--
- It's Mr. Clark!
- Yo, what up, Mr. C?
- You tell me.
You guys have one week
till the state exams.
One week to show Mr. Turner
and your parents
and yourselves what you can do.
And you guys don't have
anything you want to tell me?
- There's no way we're
gonna pass those tests.
We always mess up.
- Don't jump on us, man- sir.
I mean, it's nothing personal.
- Everything we do in
this room is personal.
How we talk to each other,
how we work together,
and how we've prepared
for these tests.
- But we're way behind now.
- We're not behind.
You're ahead!
- Everyone thinks we're losers,
Mr. Clark.
- No.
You are not losers.
These rules?
They represent everything
you've accomplished this year.
Discovering new things,
believing in each other,
believing in yourselves.
And I'm proud of you.
Compared to all that, this test?
Psst.
It's nothing.
- Mr. Clark, we have to
get certain grades
to graduate, right?
So what if we, you know, choke?
- But you're not going to choke.
You guys didn't work
hard all this year
just to get ready
for some tests.
Every day, in this room
we are learning things
far more valuable
than you can get in some book.
I teach you
and you teach me
and together, we learn to
love to learn.
So,
next week,
you're gonna take that test,
you're gonna do the best
that you can do,
and you are going walk
out of that room
and know that you can do
anything you want
for the rest of your lives.
All right, tomorrow
is the big day,
but don't worry.
You know the material
backwards and forwards.
So, just get a good
night's sleep
and, you know, good luck.
Badriyah, can I talk
to you for one minute?
And, Tayshawn, can you wait
for me at the door, please?
I know that it's been
hard for you to fit in.
But, you can be smart and
still be cool.
In fact, you're so
smart and cool,
you can do anything
you want to do.
- I want to be a doctor.
- Okay, good.
You better kick some butt
on that test, then, doctor.
- Thank you, Mr.
Clark.
- Good luck!
Tayshawn!
- Yo, kid, get it done.
Know what I'm sayin'?
Do this.
- Hey, what up, T?
Yeah, little brother,
where you been, man?
We been looking for you.
- You forgot what's up?
- Hey, check it, we
got some goods
we gotta move now, come on.
It's raining, dude, come on.
Hey!
Look, you can't be in
and not roll.
All right, you can't be
like that, son.
- I was thinking maybe we
could walk to school together.
We can do a last-minute
review of the test on the way.
- Yo, you want it this
way or that way, Payaso?
Which way? Come on!
- That way.
- Pff, punk.
- Okay, so,
when you get to the
math section...
Go get 'em.
- Good morning.
Do not open your test booklets
until I tell you to begin.
Keep your eyes on
your own paper.
When you've chosen your answer,
fill in the corresponding
answer bubble completely
with a Number 2 pencil.
If you require an
additional pencil,
please raise your hand
and one will be provided.
Do your best
and no talking.
You may begin.
- Think they're as
nervous as we are?
- I'm not nervous.
- Antacid?
Thanks.
- It was 36...
No, it was 32 apples, right?
- That test was hard, Mr. Clark.
- Double mocha latte, no foam?
- Hi, come on in.
- How were the tests?
- Oh, uh, good, I think.
I think the kids did
pretty well.
- Yeah, okay, whatever.
I'm freaking out.
I got an audition.
- Oh, my god, that's great!
- No, no, that's not so good.
Jason got a job and he asked me
to go to L.A. with him.
I- I- I don't know what to do.
Tell me what to do.
I tell sixth graders what to do,
and last time I looked
you weren't in the sixth grade.
So, thank you very much
for stopping by.
- I...
Well...
- What's going on?
What time is it?
- Does it look
like any of us got a watch?
- Shut up, Julio.
- Whatever you do,
do not open the closet.
- No, Julio, no!
Don't! Don't go!
No, Julio, no!
- Will y'all calm down?
- Hello, kids!
Julio, I knew you were
gonna open the closet!
You guys have been
working so hard
for the last three
months on this test,
and whatever the scores are,
I want you to know I'm
proud to be your teacher.
I'm so proud that I
asked your parents
to let me take you
somewhere special,
and they said yes.
So, go get your envelopes
and open them.
- Shameika?
- Raquel.
- Right here,
right here!
- Elise.
- Oh, my god!
Phantom of the Opera!
Guys, we're going to Broadway!
- We are going tonight,
so come get your playbills.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark!
- Thank you, Mr. Clark!
- Oh, thanks, Mr. Clark.
- Thank you, Mr.
Clark.
- Thank you!
- And this phantom guy,
he's like so in love
with this girl
that he's got to grab her up,
you know?
And then he takes her to
this secret crib,
and then, and then he
keeps her there,
and then they find him.
- Then what happens?
- Well, I'm not going
to tell you.
You'll find out.
- What the hell?
You ruined my wall!
I told you to paint
that crap in the street!
Not in my house!
- No!
Get off of me, man!
Get off of me!
- You think you can do
whatever you want?
You piece of garbage!
- Julio, Shameika, Raquel,
Okay, guys, go in.
The play's gonna start.
Let's go in.
Come on, get in there.
Let's go.
I can't find Tayshawn.
- Go look for him, Mr. Clark.
There's plenty of parents here.
We'll look after the kids.
- Tayshawn?
I'm here.
- Get away, get away!
I ain't worth it.
I ain't worth it.
I ain't worth it.
- No, no, no, I know you are.
I saw your work.
And it's beautiful.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Oh, it's okay, oh it's okay.
- Where am I gonna go now, Mr.
Clark?
- I'm gonna help you.
I'm not going anywhere.
Here we go.
- Tayshawn.
You'll be staying
here for a while.
- Thanks, Mr. Turner.
- You're welcome.
Hey.
You're gonna be safe here.
It may take a while, Ron,
but, uh, we'll find him a place.
I give you my word.
- So, which room is yours?
- I'll see you first thing
in the morning.
- Yes, sir.
For highest
achievement in science,
Badriyah Santhanam.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark.
- You are welcome, doctor.
- For most outstanding
achievement in mathematics,
Julio Vasquez.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark.
- For exceptional
artistic achievement
Tayshawn Mitchell.
It's for you.
And last, but not least
Shamei...
- I'm sorry to interrupt your
end of the year party, Mr.
Clark,
but I just received a fax
from the board of education,
informing me of the
results of the state exam.
I felt it was important to
give you the scores myself.
These are probably not
the scores you expected.
This class, this
sixth grade class,
tested higher than
any other class.
You even tested higher
than the honors class.
Congratulations.
Congratulations, Mr. Clark.
- Thank you.
- Very impressive.
- Shameika, your award
was going to be
for highest
achievement in English,
but I'm afraid I'm going
to have to change that,
because looking at
your exam scores,
I now see that you
achieved something
that no other student
in the entire district achieved.
Shameika Wallace,
you
earned perfect scores
in English and math.
- Oh, my god!
Thank you, Mr. Clark!
- You did it!
- Mr. Clark...
for always being there,
even when we didn't
want you to be.
You're inspiring us
to dream big.
- Yes, sir, Mr. C.
- Yeah.
- For looking like a fool,
when you Double-Dutch.
We voted you
the baddest teacher in town.
- Oh! Thank you.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark!
♪ Now let's get down to
some presidential learnin' ♪
♪ Start with George Washington
♪ Straight from Mount Vernon
♪ The first president
and commander-in-chief ♪
♪ Fought the revolutionary war
♪ So we could be free
♪ John Adams was second
♪ Thomas Jefferson third
♪ When we fought for
independence ♪
♪ Their voices were heard
♪ When in the course of
human events ♪
♪ We took a stand and
we've been doin' it since ♪
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap,
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
Ready for your first day?
- Yes, ma'am.
- I'll be with you in a minute
and I'll introduce you
to your class.
- Hi.
What happened to you?
- Teacher says I can't learn,
so I should go out
with the trash.
- Okay, settle down.
Let's get out our
silent reading.
- I'm Mr. Clark.
What's your name?
- Hadley Craig.
- Nice to meet you.
Uh, you know, I'm so sorry.
I'm so forgetful.
What's my name again?
- It's Mr. Clark.
- Oh, see?
You just learned something.
Let's get you out of there.
- Mr. Clark?
- Yeah.
- Is you gonna be our
new teacher?
- Alan, no whispering.
- Get the chairs!
- My hair!
- Get the Jell-O!
- Bill, grab
the other table.
- We'll arrive at Swan
quarter by 5:00,
like we always do.
Pick up the shrimp bait
at the general store
like we always do, and
hop the ferry over
to Ocracoke island for
some fine flounder fishing.
- Like we always do.
- Well, folks, it's not quite
the end of the year summer
celebration we expected,
but let's take a moment to
thank our own Mr. Clark,
whose fifth grade class
tested number one
in Beaufort County for
the fourth year in a row!
We have a surprise that we
have put together for you.
Unfortunately, it's outside.
- Oh, man!
- We all know Mr.
Clark began here
as a temporary teacher.
Well, we've all chipped
in on something
to help him feel more permanent.
- Aww.
- I love it here,
but I've got to move on, mom,
before they use that
parking space for my grave.
New York public schools
are desperate for good teachers.
The newspaper says
they're beggin' for them.
Dad, every year, I
tell my students
to go for what they
want in life.
Dream big, take risks.
It's time I started
living up to my own words.
I'm gonna miss you guys,
but I gotta go.
- We understand, sweetie.
Good-bye.
People get killed in New York.
- This is
radio Roanoke,
where the sun is shining
and the temperature
is 78 degrees.
♪ And the night sounds
start to whisper ♪
- News
and sports in 5, Baltimore,
but now let's get ready
to rock n' roll
with the Smokin' Red...
That was the Mellow Midnight
voice of Johnny Hartman.
This is WNYC in New York City.
Next up, something cool
on a hot night.
- Come on, pal, get
outta the way!
- Okay, sir...
- Come on! I'm tryin'
to park here!
- Rent's due at 10.
Cash only.
Checkout's at 11:30.
- Okay, this is great.
And, uh, what's your name?
- Y'landa.
- Thank you, Y'landa.
Hi!
Ah, New York.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Y'landa, good morning.
Do you have a list of the
public schools in Harlem?
- Sure I do, baby.
- Okay, thank you.
- Why you want school
listings for?
- I'm a teacher.
- And you wanna teach?
Up in Harlem?
- Yes.
- Well, then, honey, you
gonna need something else.
Personal injury lawyers.
'Cause once your white
behind goes on up in there,
they'll be carrying you back out
the same way you went in.
What kind of
foolishness is this?
Goin' on up there to Harlem,
tryin'
to teach.
You know you ain't gonna get...
- Okay, thank you.
- Taxi!
Right here.
- It's this way, son.
- Thank you so much
for coming in.
- You're welcome.
If you could just look
at my resume?
- I apologize.
We just don't have a
position available.
- Yeah, but all my kids
tested above grade level.
- I'm sure they did.
And good luck to you.
- Ma'am, you
forgot your purse.
- Thank you,
dinner was great.
- You're welcome.
Thanks.
- So, my merry men and ladies,
let us steal from the rich
and help a poor, brave waiter go
henceforth into the kitchen
and command your dinners.
- Nice hat.
It distracts the customers
from that accent.
- Hey, watch out.
I got a bow and arrow.
- What show are you in?
Everybody works here
is an actor.
- I'm a teacher.
- You are gonna change before
your first class, right?
- Very funny.
How about you?
- Me? Oh, I'm taking a
break from acting.
The Cleopatra gig is
very challenging.
- Hey, who's that?
- That's the queen of Egypt.
In love with Mark Antony.
- No, I...
I mean, uh, who is that?
- Marissa.
And she's even more
beautiful out of costume.
I'm Jason.
Otherwise known as Mark Antony.
- Sorry.
- It happens all the time, bro.
Don't sweat it.
- Table five
sent it back!
- Get back in that classroom!
Hey! Hey!
Come on, you little...
Hey, come on, man!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Enough!
- Tayshawn Mitchell,
my office now!
I'm not playin' with ya, son.
- I ain't no son.
- Mr. Solis, what the
hell was that?
That boy is your student.
- Not anymore.
- Hey, you walk away,
you stay away.
- You can have the
little bastards.
- I could start right now.
- Heh.
Heh.
You're lucky you got detention
and not an assault charge.
- Hello, I'm Ron Clark.
I wanted to let you know
I taught sixth grade
for four years
in North Carolina.
You need a teacher,
I need a job,
so let's help each other out.
- Mr. Clark, I'm sure
you're very sincere,
but I'm afraid you
might be a little too...
- Too what?
Too white? Too tall? Too ugly?
- Nice.
- I specialize in raising
standardized test scores.
- This is the honors class.
These students scored
in the top 10 percentile
on the state exams every year.
We divide each grade
into four classes
according to their
achievement scores.
- What about this class?
- This class tested
at the bottom
of the entire New York
city school district.
- They do seem a little
bit squirrelly.
- Oh, they're a bit more
than squirrelly.
These students have problems
with learning, discipline,
social skills.
Like Tayshawn Mitchell.
Two strikes going on three
towards the juvenile
detention center.
- I'm your man.
- I have an opening
in grade three.
If your credentials check out...
- Hey, you have an
opening right here.
- No.
Last year, this class
went through
six different teachers
before Christmas.
- Yes, nobody wants them, and
I do, so what's the problem?
- Test scores are very
important to me.
It's how I keep my job.
- I can start right now.
- You can start on Monday.
State exams are in May.
- You are out of control!
- Yo, man!
- Let's come
back here tomorrow.
I think she liked me.
High-five, bro.
- On a break.
$200 bucks and nothing!
Jeez, you should have
heard them in there!
Oh, Cleo, we got your
snake right here.
And then they just stiff me!
- Want half?
- Yeah, sure.
You're a teacher, Clark.
What is it?
I mean, why don't guys grow up?
- Ooh, I'm afraid my
level of expertise
expires at the sixth grade.
- You got a job?
- Inner Harlem Elementary.
I'm gonna start meeting
my kids tomorrow.
- Uh, you might want to
hold on to this.
It may be your last meal.
- Nah, they're gonna love me.
I like to meet all the
parents, Ms. Vazquez,
before I start teaching.
- Julio?
- To get them involved, uh...
- Julio!
Damn it.
Where is he?
He a clown, Mr. Clark,
but he's a good boy.
I had him when I was only 14.
- That's okay.
Like- like I was saying...
- What?
- I was just saying
you can help out by working
with Julio every night
on his homework.
- Sure, okay.
- Together, we can get him
excited about learning.
American history.
Solar system, pre-algebra.
I just want Julio
to achieve his full potential.
- So, Mr. Clark
are you married?
- No.
It's very nice to meet
you all today.
You know, I've never had a
student from India before.
How do you pronounce your name?
- Bad-rl-yah.
I like to read, especially--
- Quiet, Larki.
Men are talking, okay?
♪ What's that
♪ What's that
♪ They don't need
- Shameika Wallace?
I'm Mr. Clark, your new teacher.
I called earlier.
- It's Saturday, fool.
- Shameika, who is it?
- Nobody.
- Oh, are those your brothers?
- No, they're my kids.
I'm 12 years old, and I
got three kids.
- Who are you talkin' to?
- I'm Mr. Clark,
Shameika's new teacher.
- What the hell happened to Mr.
Solis?
- Fool quit.
- He's wet.
I swear to god, you teachers
come in and out of the school.
- Yeah, I know that.
That- that's why I'm here.
I was hoping you would
work with me.
- I already got a job, mister.
I got two jobs and four kids
and a brother on parole.
I'm late for work.
♪ Test it, gonna make a
man out of you ♪
♪ Yeah I get you to scream and
♪ Demandin' respect
with a left ♪
♪ How can I respect you
♪ Get another hand
on my rhymes ♪
♪ Makin' you drop
♪ This other dawg,
♪ Here's another shot
to the soul ♪
♪ Tell me what can I do
at 13 years old ♪
♪ Gonna lay your hand
on my child ♪
♪ Go on come and get me
♪ But by then, I come
crunk wild style ♪
♪ And then I try to hold
the kids back ♪
♪ 'Cause they gave me
satisfaction ♪
♪ To hear me askin' and bangin' ♪
♪ Please, drop down
on your knees ♪
♪ And you knowin' that it's
♪ Gonna be a while
with the demon ♪
♪ But you can never get,
♪ So can bet that I'm comin'
♪ To make a man out of you yet
♪ Shadowboxer
♪ Just a shadowboxer
- Punk ass!
♪ Just a shadowboxer
- Hey, that's enough.
- Morning.
Get moving.
- Nice to see you, Tayshawn.
- Morning,
principal Turner.
- Okay good morning.
Oh! Hello.
I'm Ron Clark.
I guess I'll be teaching...
- Yo, dream big about what?
Big butts?
- Dreamin' 'bout your mama.
- Oh!
- Take your seats.
- Yo, teacher.
Shameika's feeling sick today.
- Yeah, sick of damn teachers.
- Tell him, chica!
- Okay, because this is
our first day,
I have a surprise
for all of you.
- What?
- I'll tell you, Julio,
if you turn around.
Today, there will be
no schoolwork.
Shameika, don't do that.
Shameika, don't.
- Or what?
What are you gonna do?
Suspend me?
Go ahead, suspend me.
I wanna leave!
- We all
wanna leave.
Me, too.
- Hey, look, the fool's leavin'
already.
- Sit down.
You see this?
This means that this year
is going to be different.
This year is going to be
about more than school.
This year, we are going
to be a family.
- But you don't look nothin'
like me.
- I'm going to be your family,
and you are going to
be my family,
and that means that I
am not leaving,
and you are not leaving.
- You have any lip gloss?
- Yeah.
- What the hell?
- Come on what?
- Ohh!
- Whoa.
- Nasty.
- Well, what do you think?
- We think it looks stupid.
- Who vandalized this room?
- I did, sir.
- Mr. Clark, this sort of stunt
may have gone over
big in Aurora,
but it doesn't work for me.
My school, my rules, my way.
- Ooh.
- Lunch!
- All right, I need... ohh!
Put your gum in here.
Gum in here.
- Hurry up!
- All the gum in this jar,
the gum jar.
Come on.
Come on.
- I'm starving.
- Right in here.
Hey, no, I see you, come on.
Right in there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- Okay, to your left.
Left.
More left.
- They're just testing you.
They want to see if
you really care.
- See if I care?
They weren't even looking at me.
Well, one of them was,
but I think he was picturing
me in a dark alley.
We have to turn this...
- Ow!
Ow! Ow!
- Do these legs come off?
- All right.
I think it looks good
right there.
You know, school's
supposed to be exciting.
- Okay.
Now you sound like one of
those dumb-ass commercials
that used to come on after
cartoons on Saturday morning.
- So, what?
You didn't like school?
- School sucked.
I hated it.
- Yeah, well, if I was
your teacher,
you would have loved it.
- Ron, just relax.
Step away from the table.
- Yeah, that's what I was doing.
So, now that you helped me move,
I guess I have to be your
drive-you-to-the-airport,
feed-your-fish,
never-forget-your-birthday
kind of friend.
- Uh, not to mention my
cover-my-weekend-shift
because I'm going to
L.A. with Jason's friend.
He's going to meet
some producers.
You know, he's trying to get
on a daytime heartthrob thing.
- So, how long you two
been going out?
Almost two years.
- Oh.
- I mean, we're not living
together or anything.
He's busy, I'm busy.
But it's good.
- Yeah, it sounds good.
- All right, well, we got
three hours before our shift.
Who's hungry?
- Oh, so, you're a union mover.
This is gonna cost me a pizza,
huh?
Can I have your attention,
please?
Before we start today,
I would like to
go over three rules
for this class.
If you follow them,
we will all have a lot of fun.
- Yeah right.
- If you do not follow them,
there will be consequences.
- Ooh!
- You all remember
rule number one,
we are a family.
- Give me a damn break, man.
- We're not in kindergarten!
- That means we help
each other out,
we stand up for each other,
we defend each other.
Rule number two, we
respect each other.
Hey, you will call me sir.
Not man, not dawg, not fool.
If you are asked a question,
you will say yes, sir or no,
sir.
Not yep, nope, uh-uh, nuh-uh.
- Uh, nuh-uh, fool.
- Respect, Julio Vazquez.
You will not talk unless
I call on you.
If I am talking, you
are listening
with your eyes right here.
Rule number three,
we will form a line to
enter and exit class
and go to lunch.
- Come on!
- Are you kidding me?
- Shameika.
- What?
- What, sir?
Oh, Shameika, thank you.
- For what?
Reminding me about
rule number four.
No smacking of lips and
rolling of the eyes.
If you break one of these rules,
your name will go up
on the board.
- So stupid!
- If you break another rule,
you will get a check.
- Come on.
- If you break a third rule...
- Oh!
- Hey.
- Hi.
- What you reading?
- Nothing.
- Oh, I didn't read that
book till high school.
- You figure that,
by seventh, man, the
odds are 10 to 1.
That's big bucks, man.
That's big bucks!
- What's Julio doing?
- Say, man, I
don't know why
you're going for the 24th.
- Taking bets
on you.
- On me?
- When you're gonna quit.
- My sister say he's
gonna be gone by Friday.
- Gambling is illegal,
especially when you're 12.
And by the way, I'm not leaving.
- Yo, come on, dawg!
How am I supposed to make
some paper around here?
- Boy, something smells
really good in here.
Could I ask a favor
of you ladies?
I just wanted to, uh, know if...
Dr. King talked about justice
rollin' down like waters.
Here, pass these around, guys,
and righteousness like a
mighty stream.
It's like on a hot day
when you go outside,
and whoosh! somebody
opens up a fire hydrant,
and there's water streaming
all over the place!
And everybody's running
around and going crazy.
That's what Dr. King
wanted justice
and freedom to feel like.
So, tonight, after we've
gone over Dr. King's speech,
I want you all to
start a journal
about your dreams and
aspirations.
- Hey, man, it's locked!
What's up?
- Rule number three,
we all line up
to go to the lunch room.
- You know what?
Here's my rule.
I ain't standin' in no line.
- Oh, okay, Shameika.
But because we are all a family,
if one of us doesn't get
in line for the lunch room,
then none of us gets lunch.
- I'm starving!
- Mr. Clark!
We're starving!
- Shameika, just do it.
- Yeah.
- Very quietly, two lines
right up against the wall.
That's good.
That's good.
Nice and quiet.
Oh, looks like
somebody's not hungry.
Stop fighting, let's go.
No talking.
And stop.
Shameika, did you cut in line?
- No, sir, I did not.
- You do know that I have eyes
in the back of my head, right?
- I was here, ask her.
- Stupid.
- All right, we're all
gonna stand here
until Shameika decides to
tell the truth.
- Come on, Mr. Clark!
- I didn't cut in no line!
- Hey, you're in Mr.
Clark's class, no food.
- Huh?
- Yo, come on, Mr.
Clark, I'm starving, man!
I'm about to faint, I'm fallin'
down...
- Julio, get to the
back of the line.
And take that hat off.
It's up to you whether
we eat or not.
Shameika, this is a family,
and families treat each
other with respect.
They never, ever, lie
to one another.
Did you cut in line?
- Come on, Meka!
Come on, let's go!
- We are all just waiting
on you.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
Now, what is rule number five?
- No cutting in line.
- That's right, now go eat.
- About time!
- I'm proud of you.
- Thanks a lot, Shameika.
- Thanks for nothing.
- I'm starving now.
- Uh huh.
Yes, mom, I miss you, too.
Yeah, I know there's a
job for me back home,
but, uh, things are going
very well here.
Well, it took the kids a
little while to warm up to me.
Yeah.
Honestly, we're
getting along great.
I want you all to take
a good look around at
your new, clean room.
- Whatever.
- I'm not going to ask
who wrecked it.
Eyes right here.
I was hoping we could
have fun this year,
and I think that we still can,
but only after you learn
to follow all of my rules.
And you will follow
all of my rules.
- First of all, he a freak.
Take your seats, call me sir.
- Too many damn rules, man.
Telling us how to do
this and do that,
making us walk around
in a damn line.
- He ain't my daddy.
- He could be your daddy.
You don't know.
- You should talk, girl.
- Excuse me.
- Shut up.
All I'm saying is, this
is our school, all right?
We do what we wanna.
- Yeah, 'cause he's just
gonna leave anyways.
- That's what you said
last week, girl.
He's still here.
- You wait, he going.
- I hope not.
- What?
- I like Mr. Clark.
That's 'cause you from a
foreign country,
and you don't know
how we do here.
- How do we do?
- Do like us, baby.
You want to be like us,
you gotta do like we do.
Come on.
♪ Yo, yo, let's go, let's go
♪ Yo, yo, let's go, let's go
♪ Hey, hey, Ron Clark,
let's go ♪
♪ Hey, hey, Ron Clark,
let's go ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo
♪ Strawberry shortcake
♪ Cream on top
♪ Tell me the name of
your sweetheart ♪
♪ Is it A
♪ B, C, D, E
- That's really good.
Shameika, you're really
good at this!
- Hey! Hey!
Go to your seat!
- Come here.
- What?
Yeah, go to your room, Julio!
- Hey, who's talking to you?
- Was I talking to you?
You gonna hit me?
- No.
But you did break
rule number two.
You gonna hit me, sir?
- Hey, get off me, dawg!
You think that's funny?
- Shameika, you're in charge.
- What?
- Tayshawn!
Okay, don't do this! Hey!
Okay, I know you have
two strikes.
You walk out now, they'll
expel you for sure.
Just get back in there.
- Why?
Because I would miss
your glowing personality.
Mr. Turner doesn't have to
know anything about this.
Just
give yourself another chance.
- Hey, you still cool
with helping me
move to my new
address on Saturday?
- Yes, definitely.
I mean, Jason would help,
but you've got the fly blue car,
so...
- This is supposed to
be well done.
- It is well done.
- What are you talking about?
It's rare.
- Fine, I'll burn it.
Just take out the rest
of the order.
- I know how to do my job.
- Congratulations.
- On what?
- Officially becoming
a New Yorker.
- You ready?
- Oh, yeah, babe, I'll
be right there.
- Well, you better go.
- Hey!
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Don't forget the parsley.
- Thank you.
Raquel Arenas.
Raquel, do you have
your journal?
- Mm-mmm.
- Alita Sanchez?
Shameika Wallace?
Shameika, did you bring
your Dr. King journal?
- Nope.
Got no dreams to keep.
- Badriyah?
Julio Vazquez?
- Sorry, I couldn't get to it,
boss.
- Why are you all doing this?
- Got better things to do, yo.
Oops, my bad.
Forgot to say, yo, sir.
Guess I get a check.
- You want to get a detention?
- Yo, I really, really
like your nail polish.
- Thank you, my mama bought it.
- Look at me when I talk to you.
- My double bad.
Another check.
- Look at me when I talk to you!
- Go to hell!
- You win.
- You did it, girl!
- Bounce!
Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce.
- Hey!
What happened?
Why aren't you in school, kid?
- I don't want to talk about it.
Just show me New York.
I've been here for 3 months,
I haven't seen a damn thing.
- Today?
All right, let's go see
some damn things.
- You know,
when I was a kid,
I used to call it the
entire state building.
- That's cute.
Okay, you know what?
We walked the entire
island in a monsoon.
I bought you three
pretzels and two hot dogs.
Now you're gonna do
something for me.
- Anything.
- Tell me what happened.
- I shook a desk with a
12-year-old kid in it.
I wanted to throw it, and her,
right out the window.
- Well, they've seen that
kind of anger before.
- Well, not from me.
I, I totally lost it.
- What, you felt helpless?
They feel that way every day.
These kids can do anything
I'm asking them to do, more.
They just won't.
So today I gave up.
- Don't give up, Ron.
- Oh, yeah?
How long has it been
since you've auditioned?
- I don't know.
Two years and seven months.
What? Broadway's not
gonna miss me if I'm gone.
Those kids, they'll miss you.
Maybe you can be that one guy
that turns it around for them.
- Mr. Clark was crazy
man on Friday, you know?
I think he's gone for good.
I say we should just
all go home.
- Think so?
- Yeah.
- Well, thanks for your advice,
son,
but if Mr. Clark isn't
in his class,
I'm sure we can find
someone to cover for him.
- Why we gotta do that?
- Good morning, Julio.
Mr. Turner.
- Fool came back.
- Fool did, indeed.
- What's he doing?
- He's crazy!
- Everybody take a look around.
Within these four walls,
you can be strangers,
or you can be a family.
Within these four walls
can be the end of your story,
or you can make it a beginning.
A beginning that is better
than anything you ever
imagined possible.
Since I got here, you have
not listened to me once.
- Yeah.
- So, here's the deal.
Today we are going to
learn grammar.
If you are quiet and you listen,
every 15 seconds,
I will drink a chocolate milk.
If you can do it,
you may get to see me puke.
So, do we have a deal?
- Yeah!
- Okay, good.
Julio?
- Yes?
- This is not for you to eat.
I want you to watch the clock,
and every 15 seconds,
bang the jar with the ruler,
like that.
- All right.
- When I hear the gong,
I will slam down one of these.
The time starts now.
Every sentence
has a subject
and a verb.
- What the hell's a boomerang?
- Shut up, Alita!
- I guess you guys don't
want to see me
drink all the chocolate milk!
The verb expresses action
in the sentence.
In this sentence...
- Chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug, chug,
chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug, chug,
chug.
- Uh-oh!
Aw, come on!
Come on, come on!
- Whoa.
- Chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug!
- Now, can anybody
tell me the verb
in this sentence?
- Feels?
- Yes, yes!
- You gonna puke now, Mr. Clark?
- Yes!
- Yeah, come on.
You're good.
Keep going.
- Hey, can you guys
teach me how to do that?
Oh, you don't think I
can learn how to do that?
- No!
- Okay, all right, I'll
make you a deal.
If I learn how to Double-Dutch,
then you guys gotta
learn something from me.
- What?
- Everything you need to know
for the seventh grade.
- Is he for real?
- All right.
So, you gonna jump?
- Yeah.
Okay, okay, okay, can you just
go a little slower?
- Nuh-uh.
You gotta do like we do.
- Okay.
All right, all right.
- Ready, set, go.
Come on, man.
You're ain't dancin',
you're jumpin'.
Aw, come on, now.
- Almost had it that time.
- Hey.
Hey, Mr.Turner, this is fun!
- You really think
it appropriate
to do this with the students?
- Well, I'm certainly not
gonna Double-Dutch with you.
- These kids are at the
bottom of the barrel.
- Don't talk about
them like that.
- Now all I'm asking is
for your students to pass.
- Oh, every one of my
students will pass.
- What?
- I'm not going to pass.
- Good.
They've become somebody
else's problem.
- The problem isn't the kids.
It's not even what
they can achieve.
The problem is what you
expect them to achieve.
You are setting the bar here.
Why?
Set it up here, they
can make it.
- This community judges
us by scores.
Government funding
judges us by scores.
People who give me scores,
they get my respect.
Okay, good, in May,
they'll all test at grade level.
- I don't see how
that's possible.
- Oh, I'm sorry, did I
say grade level?
I meant above grade level.
Every single one of
those kids in that class
just wants your respect.
Hell, I want your respect.
- You want my respect?
Stop acting like a 12-year-old.
I always wanted to go
rock climbing.
But there I was, on
the edge of this cliff,
ropes on me,
and my friends are yelling,
"jump, jump, jump!"
And I looked down
and it is a long way down.
So, I'm on the cliff
and I'm yelling,
"I can't, I can't, I can't."
And my friends are yelling,
"yes, you can, you can do it!
"Jump! Jump! Jump!"
And I did.
I thought I was going to die,
but when I jumped out,
it felt like I was flying.
I did something that I
never thought I could do.
And it was pretty cool.
Now you guys may not know this,
but in this classroom
we're rock climbing every day.
We are climbing up
and up and up.
And we are there,
and now it's time to jump.
I know you're scared.
But I want you to do it.
I want you to jump.
I want you guys to feel
what it's like to fly.
So, I want each of you
to come up here,
and light one of these candles.
Okay, come on up, guys.
And when you light a candle
it symbolizes that we are
joined together.
And if you trust me
you can learn more than
you ever dreamed of,
and that's a promise.
The revolutionary war.
Industrialism.
The civil war.
The civil rights movement.
I want you all to get
the great big picture
of American history.
That's why, this year,
we're going to learn
all 42 presidents of the
United States, in order.
No no no, once you know
the presidents,
it'll be easy to remember
what and when.
Come on.
None of you passed the test
and there's going to
be punishment.
I want you to pass
these all around.
♪ Now let's get down to
some presidential learnin' ♪
♪ We'll start with
George Washington ♪
♪ Straight from Mount Vernon
♪ The first president
and commander-in-chief ♪
♪ Fought the revolutionary war
♪ So we could be free
♪ John Adams was second
♪ Thomas Jefferson third
♪ When we fought for
independence ♪
♪ Their voices were heard
♪ When in the course of
human events ♪
♪ We took a stand
♪ And we've been doin'
it since ♪
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ All right, all right,
♪ Okay okay
- All right,
back to your seats.
Back, back, back to your seats.
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's the presidents rap
♪ All right, all right,
♪ Okay okay
R to the O to the izzle.
R to the O to the nizzle.
R to rizzle.
R to the O to the...
Ra-kizzle.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark.
- Here you go.
- This is my first "A"
- Hey, good job!
- Shameik-izzle.
- Thank you, Mr.
Clark.
- Yo, man, I told you.
- You got an A too!
- Now, give it up for
your sizzle selves.
It's okay to be proud of
yourself
for doing well on a test.
- Come on, let's go.
Oh, my god...
My luck is number 13.
- Can you hold up for a minute?
I wanted to ask a favor of you.
- Me?
- Could you empty your pockets,
please?
- I believe this constitutes
an illegal search, sir.
- Right on the desk.
That morning at your house,
your mother's purse...
- Nah, see, you got
it all wrong.
Me and her have this deal,
you know,
I take care of her, and
she takes care of me.
You see?
- No, I don't.
- Bet you about to tell
me that crime doesn't pay.
- Sometimes it costs.
And in this case, three
one-hour study sessions with me.
- I mean, for real,
you should be
workin' for us, little brother.
See, make yourself some
easy money, right?
- I already got enough trouble.
The man don't care about no kid.
He's too busy to take you
down Tay, I'm tellin' you.
- Tayshawn!
- He a 5-0 or somethin'?
What's up?
- Nah, nah, man, he
ain't no police.
He just, uh, some fool, man.
I'll handle him.
Don't worry, y'all.
Be back.
It is so fool, and it
is such a problem later.
- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm cool.
- I wanted to bring you this.
Here.
You could bring up your
math and English
with some extra help.
Tomorrow's Saturday.
I could meet you at the
coffee shop by the school.
I'll buy you lunch.
I'll be there at noon.
Noon.
- Can I
take that now?
- Oh yeah thank you.
- Too bad he
didn't show up.
Here I am, not even 2:00.
I'm early, sir.
Down for study
session numero tres.
Okay, let me get three
cards up on the fly.
And then we get another
two cards up.
- Okay, so that's five cards up.
Can you add those up for me?
- You know, we gotta bet first.
- I bet 5 fake dollars.
- Well I'll call,
and that's 36.
- That's good.
Now what's the square
root of that?
Uh, oh, square root.
Okay, I think the square
root is
- What number, multiplied
by itself, gives you 36?
- Uh, six?
- That's good.
- So, what you got?
- Pair of 7's.
- Well, I guess I get
all the chips.
Because I got three 10's.
Oh, pay up, dog!
Wanna go again?
- Yeah sure guy!
Shameika Wallace?
Didn't we have an appointment
after school today?
- Must of slipped my mind.
- We have to talk about you
turning in your homework.
- I told you,
the fire alarm keeps
going off in my building.
- Three times this week?
- I get busy, forget.
Last night I just didn't
do a good enough job.
- Would you like to show
me your homework?
I'm sure I can help you with it.
This is really close.
We can fix this.
- Yeah?
For reals?
- Sure, we can work on
it right now.
There's a few spelling mistakes.
And just arrange some of the
paragraphs different, yeah.
- He's been cranky and
fussy all day.
I think maybe he's got a fever.
- Okay.
Thank you, Mrs. Benton.
Mr. Clark, I can't work
on my paper right now.
I gotta go make dinner.
- I'll do it.
- You'll do what?
- I'll make dinner, and
you work on your paper.
- Okay?
- Okay.
- Start with that
third paragraph.
Hi.
Okay, where's the food?
Dinner's served.
- I'm tryin' to concentrate.
- Concentrate later,
dinner's served.
- I tried like you said.
I moved the third paragraph,
and it sounds really good.
- Okay.
Now, that's for you.
And who gets the baby food?
- He does.
- Okay, you're
gonna like this.
This looks really good.
- What's he doing here?
- He made us dinner.
- You don't think I can take
care of my family, Mr. Clark?
- No, yes.
- Please, leave my house.
I come home to find him
in my kitchen
cooking for my family.
This girl has a job to do.
- Ms. Wallace, can we please
not talk about Shameika
like she's not in the room?
- I'll talk any way I want.
Now, I send my daughter
to school to be educated.
I don't expect a teacher to
bring school up in my house.
- It's called homework.
- Excuse me?
- She has too much of it
to be babysitting all the time.
- Mr. Clark.
- Shameika has more potential
than any kid in my class.
Why can't you see that?
- How dare you!
How you going to tell
me what I should
and should not see in
my daughter?
- I am merely suggesting
that you give her a chance.
- I'm taking my child home now.
The white tornado here
better not be teaching
at this school
when I bring her back tomorrow.
- Ms. Wallace, I can assure you
I will deal with the situation.
- Come on, Shameika.
- Please don't fire, Mr. Clark!
He was just trying to help me,
mama.
He's just trying to help.
- That's- that's okay.
- Please don't leave
because of me, Mr. Clark.
- Ms. Wallace, wait.
- I'll meet you outside.
Why are you doing this?
You gave her these grand ideas,
and this world is just
going to crush her down.
- I don't believe that.
So, you're just going
to drop into her life,
and now you know all about it,
right?
- I just know she's a
great student,
a born leader.
Creative, intelligent.
- Shameika?
My Shameika?
- Yes.
If she tests well enough in May,
I think we might be able to
get her into Manhattan West
for middle school.
- That's for gifted kids.
Maybe Mrs. Benton can
keep the boys
a little longer every day.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Good morning, Mr. Clark.
- Good morning.
- Morning, Mr. Clark.
- Julio, did you do this?
- Good morning Mr.
Clark.
- You like it, Mr. Clark?
- It's really good.
You got quite a talent for this.
- Well, it's one of my manys,
dawg.
Sir.
- Thanks.
Good morning.
- Yo, what up, Tay?
- Do you like me, Mr. Clark?
- Hey, don't hate on
me 'cause I got skills.
- Skills?
You mean being a
straight up punk?
You real good at that!
- Yo, come on, Tay,
just chill out.
- You telling me to chill,
homey?
You telling me to chill?
- Come on, man, I mean,
Mr. Clark likes that art crap,
okay?
So, he thought I did it,
and I just went with it.
- Superintendent
Stevens has joined us
to determine if Tayshawn
Mitchell should be expelled
from Inner Harlem Elementary.
- I vote yes.
Send him to Juvi.
- This isn't a democracy, Mr.
Brampton.
- Howard, would you let Mr.
Turner
finish what he was saying?
- You're his foster parent.
You got the say here.
We don't need his lazy ass
around the house all day.
- What did you just say?
Look, if we expel him,
he's only going
to fall further behind.
- Mr. Clark, our
students can't simply
do what they want with
no consequences.
- What about the
consequences for Tayshawn?
We are supposed to be
keeping these kids in school.
- Let's all just take
a step back.
- Remember that I have eyes
in the back of my head,
so, stop fighting.
This is not a test.
This is my phone number.
I want you guys to call me
if you have any questions
about homework,
need any advice, or you
are in trouble.
That's 24/7.
Pick up your math workbooks
at the front of the class.
And we have a book report
due tomorrow.
Remember, there are two
variables in this equation.
Okay, so X equals?
X- X equals?
Come on, Tayshawn,
you can do this.
- Yo, not with you all up on me,
man!
- Yeah.
- X equals 3/8!
- Yes!
Ah, that's great.
Just keep doing it like that.
- This doesn't sound good.
How long you been this way?
- A week, maybe more.
- Well, you have pneumonia.
I can send you home, but
you'd be confined
to bed rest for 2 weeks,
minimum.
- You know, I can't, I
can't do that.
- Or I can admit you
to the hospital
right now, Mr. Clark.
- Okay, everybody,
take your seats.
- Mr. Clark, you look
really white.
- Yeah, even more than usual.
- We have four ,
four weeks.
Now I know that doesn't
seem like a lot of time,
but if we work really hard,
I know we're going to
do great on these exams.
So, let's go over our science
topics from last week.
Who knows those?
- Magnetism, chemical
reactions, and gravity.
- Okay, good.
Gravity.
Gravity
is important because
- Okay, we get it, Mr. Clark.
Gravity makes you fall down.
- Is he kidding?
- He's always joking.
Mr. Clark?
- He not kidding!
Mr. Clark?
- I hope he's all right.
- Is it good?
Are you on me?
- Yeah.
- Very nice of Jason to
let me borrow the camera.
- Oh, he's happy to help.
How much are we taping?
- Four hours.
- Four hours?
Everyday?
- Yeah, the kids need it.
It'll go quick.
- For you.
- Hey, Mariss...
Thank you.
- Wait, come over here.
Can't have our Mr. Clark
looking all sloppy now, can we?
- You know, a guy could
get used to this.
- Come on, teach already.
- Okay, now just because
I'm on this video tape,
doesn't mean that I
can't see you.
Alita, is that gum?
All right, is everybody ready?
- Yes, sir.
- Gravity,
the force of attraction
between two objects.
That is gravity.
Now, according to the
definition of gravity,
why did the egg fall?
- Because--
- And no, Julio, it's not
because the egg
and the floor are hot
for each other.
- Turn around and face me.
The egg fell because the
force of the mass
and the distance between
the egg and the floor
caused a reaction.
Okay now, get out
your workbooks,
because I have to
clean my floor.
- Morning, Mr. Clark!
- Good morning, Tisha.
Got my kids' homework?
- Good to have you back.
- That's not true.
- Yes, it is, I want my CD back
and my money, bitch.
- Stupid, I
gave that CD back!
- No, you didn't!
- Yes, I did!
You always do--
- It's Mr. Clark!
- Yo, what up, Mr. C?
- You tell me.
You guys have one week
till the state exams.
One week to show Mr. Turner
and your parents
and yourselves what you can do.
And you guys don't have
anything you want to tell me?
- There's no way we're
gonna pass those tests.
We always mess up.
- Don't jump on us, man- sir.
I mean, it's nothing personal.
- Everything we do in
this room is personal.
How we talk to each other,
how we work together,
and how we've prepared
for these tests.
- But we're way behind now.
- We're not behind.
You're ahead!
- Everyone thinks we're losers,
Mr. Clark.
- No.
You are not losers.
These rules?
They represent everything
you've accomplished this year.
Discovering new things,
believing in each other,
believing in yourselves.
And I'm proud of you.
Compared to all that, this test?
Psst.
It's nothing.
- Mr. Clark, we have to
get certain grades
to graduate, right?
So what if we, you know, choke?
- But you're not going to choke.
You guys didn't work
hard all this year
just to get ready
for some tests.
Every day, in this room
we are learning things
far more valuable
than you can get in some book.
I teach you
and you teach me
and together, we learn to
love to learn.
So,
next week,
you're gonna take that test,
you're gonna do the best
that you can do,
and you are going walk
out of that room
and know that you can do
anything you want
for the rest of your lives.
All right, tomorrow
is the big day,
but don't worry.
You know the material
backwards and forwards.
So, just get a good
night's sleep
and, you know, good luck.
Badriyah, can I talk
to you for one minute?
And, Tayshawn, can you wait
for me at the door, please?
I know that it's been
hard for you to fit in.
But, you can be smart and
still be cool.
In fact, you're so
smart and cool,
you can do anything
you want to do.
- I want to be a doctor.
- Okay, good.
You better kick some butt
on that test, then, doctor.
- Thank you, Mr.
Clark.
- Good luck!
Tayshawn!
- Yo, kid, get it done.
Know what I'm sayin'?
Do this.
- Hey, what up, T?
Yeah, little brother,
where you been, man?
We been looking for you.
- You forgot what's up?
- Hey, check it, we
got some goods
we gotta move now, come on.
It's raining, dude, come on.
Hey!
Look, you can't be in
and not roll.
All right, you can't be
like that, son.
- I was thinking maybe we
could walk to school together.
We can do a last-minute
review of the test on the way.
- Yo, you want it this
way or that way, Payaso?
Which way? Come on!
- That way.
- Pff, punk.
- Okay, so,
when you get to the
math section...
Go get 'em.
- Good morning.
Do not open your test booklets
until I tell you to begin.
Keep your eyes on
your own paper.
When you've chosen your answer,
fill in the corresponding
answer bubble completely
with a Number 2 pencil.
If you require an
additional pencil,
please raise your hand
and one will be provided.
Do your best
and no talking.
You may begin.
- Think they're as
nervous as we are?
- I'm not nervous.
- Antacid?
Thanks.
- It was 36...
No, it was 32 apples, right?
- That test was hard, Mr. Clark.
- Double mocha latte, no foam?
- Hi, come on in.
- How were the tests?
- Oh, uh, good, I think.
I think the kids did
pretty well.
- Yeah, okay, whatever.
I'm freaking out.
I got an audition.
- Oh, my god, that's great!
- No, no, that's not so good.
Jason got a job and he asked me
to go to L.A. with him.
I- I- I don't know what to do.
Tell me what to do.
I tell sixth graders what to do,
and last time I looked
you weren't in the sixth grade.
So, thank you very much
for stopping by.
- I...
Well...
- What's going on?
What time is it?
- Does it look
like any of us got a watch?
- Shut up, Julio.
- Whatever you do,
do not open the closet.
- No, Julio, no!
Don't! Don't go!
No, Julio, no!
- Will y'all calm down?
- Hello, kids!
Julio, I knew you were
gonna open the closet!
You guys have been
working so hard
for the last three
months on this test,
and whatever the scores are,
I want you to know I'm
proud to be your teacher.
I'm so proud that I
asked your parents
to let me take you
somewhere special,
and they said yes.
So, go get your envelopes
and open them.
- Shameika?
- Raquel.
- Right here,
right here!
- Elise.
- Oh, my god!
Phantom of the Opera!
Guys, we're going to Broadway!
- We are going tonight,
so come get your playbills.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark!
- Thank you, Mr. Clark!
- Oh, thanks, Mr. Clark.
- Thank you, Mr.
Clark.
- Thank you!
- And this phantom guy,
he's like so in love
with this girl
that he's got to grab her up,
you know?
And then he takes her to
this secret crib,
and then, and then he
keeps her there,
and then they find him.
- Then what happens?
- Well, I'm not going
to tell you.
You'll find out.
- What the hell?
You ruined my wall!
I told you to paint
that crap in the street!
Not in my house!
- No!
Get off of me, man!
Get off of me!
- You think you can do
whatever you want?
You piece of garbage!
- Julio, Shameika, Raquel,
Okay, guys, go in.
The play's gonna start.
Let's go in.
Come on, get in there.
Let's go.
I can't find Tayshawn.
- Go look for him, Mr. Clark.
There's plenty of parents here.
We'll look after the kids.
- Tayshawn?
I'm here.
- Get away, get away!
I ain't worth it.
I ain't worth it.
I ain't worth it.
- No, no, no, I know you are.
I saw your work.
And it's beautiful.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Oh, it's okay, oh it's okay.
- Where am I gonna go now, Mr.
Clark?
- I'm gonna help you.
I'm not going anywhere.
Here we go.
- Tayshawn.
You'll be staying
here for a while.
- Thanks, Mr. Turner.
- You're welcome.
Hey.
You're gonna be safe here.
It may take a while, Ron,
but, uh, we'll find him a place.
I give you my word.
- So, which room is yours?
- I'll see you first thing
in the morning.
- Yes, sir.
For highest
achievement in science,
Badriyah Santhanam.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark.
- You are welcome, doctor.
- For most outstanding
achievement in mathematics,
Julio Vasquez.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark.
- For exceptional
artistic achievement
Tayshawn Mitchell.
It's for you.
And last, but not least
Shamei...
- I'm sorry to interrupt your
end of the year party, Mr.
Clark,
but I just received a fax
from the board of education,
informing me of the
results of the state exam.
I felt it was important to
give you the scores myself.
These are probably not
the scores you expected.
This class, this
sixth grade class,
tested higher than
any other class.
You even tested higher
than the honors class.
Congratulations.
Congratulations, Mr. Clark.
- Thank you.
- Very impressive.
- Shameika, your award
was going to be
for highest
achievement in English,
but I'm afraid I'm going
to have to change that,
because looking at
your exam scores,
I now see that you
achieved something
that no other student
in the entire district achieved.
Shameika Wallace,
you
earned perfect scores
in English and math.
- Oh, my god!
Thank you, Mr. Clark!
- You did it!
- Mr. Clark...
for always being there,
even when we didn't
want you to be.
You're inspiring us
to dream big.
- Yes, sir, Mr. C.
- Yeah.
- For looking like a fool,
when you Double-Dutch.
We voted you
the baddest teacher in town.
- Oh! Thank you.
- Thank you, Mr. Clark!
♪ Now let's get down to
some presidential learnin' ♪
♪ Start with George Washington
♪ Straight from Mount Vernon
♪ The first president
and commander-in-chief ♪
♪ Fought the revolutionary war
♪ So we could be free
♪ John Adams was second
♪ Thomas Jefferson third
♪ When we fought for
independence ♪
♪ Their voices were heard
♪ When in the course of
human events ♪
♪ We took a stand and
we've been doin' it since ♪
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap,
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay
♪ It's a tribute
♪ To the leaders of the USA
♪ It's a presidents rap
♪ All right, all right
♪ Okay okay