It’s back-to-school week in many parts of country and in that spirit I decided to put together a list of 10 films that take place (mostly) in schools and either reveal something about our education system or something about us as a society.

There are so many good school films that it was hard to narrow it down to ten but I think the films below present a nice cross section of old and new and foreign and American.   Enjoy and let me know if I missed your favorite!

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10) Lean on Me - It doesn’t get much better than this inspiring story of a high school principal that must improve test scores to avoid having the government take over his school.  Based on the story of real-life principal Joe Clark and starring Morgan Freeman, this is a film that shows how all too often procedure can limit innovative educators willing to go the extra mile to help those who can’t be helped by the system as is.

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9) The Dead Poets Society - The classic rebel teacher movie, I can’t help but love Dead Poets Society and its Carpe Diem attitude - no matter how cheesy it might seem. Robin Williams’ John Keating proves yet again that we need to experiment with education.

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8 ) To Be and To Have - A wonderful French documentary about a French primary school and George Lopez, a hardworking teacher that uses patience and respect to teach his students.

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7) Pressure Cooker - The inspiring true story of Wilma Stephenson and her cut throat culinary arts program, Pressure Cooker proves that what we need more of in our school systems is hard work, determination and innovation.

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6) Election - A films that somehow truly captures what high school is like while also saying something about the world at large. Also, it is hilarious.

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5) Please Vote for Me - A hugely entertaining look at an elementary school in China that holds an election amongst students to teach them what Democracy is.  Throughout the film not only does it become apparent that Democracy functions in the way same even when its participants don’t know anything about it but it also becomes clear that children behave in the same basic ways regardless of location.

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4) Half Nelson - A hard but wonderful film about wanting to change the world (and inspire students) and the harsh reality of what one can actually accomplish, Half Nelson hits all the right notes about education and idealism.

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3) Au revoir les enfants - A heartbreaking film about a boys boarding school in Nazi-occupied France, Louis Malle’s drama captures both the innocence of friendship and the horror of how kids can treat each other.

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2) Zero de Conduite - Jean Vigo’s hugely influential and important film uses a location of a boy’s boarding school to showcase his thoughts about education and childhood. The school he places the boys in is a repressive and bureaucratic one that doesn’t give children the freedom to be children.  (the montage below is fanmade and features some artistic choices not in the film but it does help paint an accurate picture of the film)

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1) The fourth season of The Wire - Not a movie but perhaps the best piece of media I have ever seen on the current state of inner city schools. If you haven’t watched The Wire you owe it to yourself and to the world at large to watch it and learn about the world you live in.

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