Is anyone watching the docuseries “America to Me”?

[Anonymous]

I think it offers several interesting viewpoints about race and socioeconomic and how these influence one school/system.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am.

[Anonymous]

Where is it showing/streaming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is it showing/streaming?

I believe it is on starz and new episoded air on Sundays, but re-air several times during the week.
I have mixed feelings watching it, but I absolutely cannot stomach the physics teacher, who professed to know a lot about African American culture and acts buddy-buddy and overly familiar with his students who are 20 years younger than he is. One of his female students quietly clashes with him. In one scene she expresses her issues with his behavior and he dismisses her feelings. She had valid points, but did not express them succintly, which is understable since she is a teenager speaking to an adult authority figure who has power over her. I understood what she was trying to say. African Americans are not a monolith and knowing a few cultural aspects does not give him license to behave a certain way with teenage students.

[Anonymous]

I agree about the physics teacher. It’s as if he is unwilling to hear any other viewpoint t because he is convinced that he is right. He even dismissed the other (mixed race) teacher when she tries to have a discussion with him.

I feel sad about the student with developmental delays. It’s clear that he is in the wrong track and struggling. I understand why his mother is pushing, but I don’t think he is capabale of performing in the honors track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree about the physics teacher. It’s as if he is unwilling to hear any other viewpoint t because he is convinced that he is right. He even dismissed the other (mixed race) teacher when she tries to have a discussion with him.

I feel sad about the student with developmental delays. It’s clear that he is in the wrong track and struggling. I understand why his mother is pushing, but I don’t think he is capabale of performing in the honors track.

Agreed. High school is such a weird time for development. My school had honors, regular and "less than" regular. Some of the less than students went on the be lawyers, doctors, etc. Some honors superstudents also became doctors, lawyers and whatnot, but some also faded away. He may soar in a different environment.

[Anonymous]

I’m glad that the slam poetry team made it to finals and placed fourth.

The outrage over that pool is justified.

[Anonymous]

The superintendent quit? Not sure if it was because of the documentary or not, but what a coincidence. It seems like the school thought it was a model school until the students and teachers started talking for the documentary. I wonder if a local school was the subject what kinds of things would be uncovered?

[Anonymous]

Yes. But I’m only up through the second episode.

[Anonymous]

I’m not surprised that he superintendent quit. He looked like he really didn’t want to be there. Plus, he has been aware of the problems at the school, and it seems that he has done very little to contribute to a solution

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree about the physics teacher. It’s as if he is unwilling to hear any other viewpoint t because he is convinced that he is right. He even dismissed the other (mixed race) teacher when she tries to have a discussion with him.

I feel sad about the student with developmental delays. It’s clear that he is in the wrong track and struggling. I understand why his mother is pushing, but I don’t think he is capabale of performing in the honors track.

I binge watched. That teacher has issues! He claims he wants his black students to suceed. How nice of you. Just stop messing with them and saying inappropriate things to children. I had a teacher like that in high school. He tried to be hip and cool with his students by acting like their peer or using slang and whatnot. Some students liked him. I didn't. Stop trying to relate and teach! Encourage when necessary. It doesn't help that he looks creepy. My mistake. Is that inappropriate to say you look like a creeper? Who cares what his parents or grandparents did. Your grandfather could have marched next to MLK it doesn't give you license to put your hands on students food or talk about their hair. It is a body part. If a student said the same to him about his hair or appearance or other body parts or messed with items on his desk with the same frequency they would be suspended.

I wasn't clear why the one student with development delays needed a guardianship past the age of 18, but I was halfwatching at the time and need to go back and re-watch.