In my last two years teaching, I had a class in which we watched movies. Casablanca, Jaws, Rear Window, whatever I thought might be good that they hadn't seen. Watching movies, that's all we did. No tests, quizzes, reports, or lectures. I talked a little about willing suspension of disbelief, showed them why certain scenes were great, and answered any questions, but mostly we just watched movies.

Had this been early in my career, I'd likely have felt guilty about watching movies without any academic activity attached. As it went, I felt no guilt because the admins were screwing us teachers and kids every possible way. I was so burned out and the kids were so poorly served, it was all we could do to survive and get through the day.

Three years removed from terrible, abusive place, I realize it was actually a pretty great class.

Here's something about teaching: most of the tests and lectures is meant to justify what's being done and hold kids accountable. It justifies to admins why the teacher is showing a movie. Accountability is a euphamism for keeping kids in line — watch the movie or fail the unit. It's a game

The kids in those classes actually watched the movies. Okay, one kid put his head down and fake-snored just to show me I couldn't make him do anything, but he was a wrecked kid who'd have just failed any quizzes and tests I had inflicted. The rest of the kids mostly were into it. They suggested movies, asked why I'd chosen some, told me what they thought of each one.

By end of year they'd seen some good movies. A couple documentaries, one movie with subtitles that they hated, some westerns, lots of suspense, great comedy, a few action movies, a couple in black and white, and whatever else I threw at them. Things they wouldn't have seen otherwise.

Isn't that what school is supposed to do?

Only that one kid failed and that's because he wanted to. The rest passed with A's.

Here's something else about teaching and learning: Teaching is ridiculously easy, but helping people learn is the hardest work there is. Most grades and tests are all about teaching not learning. My movie class grew out of me needing to survive but ended up being all about learning.

Don't know why I thought of all this, but it reminds me of the good in teaching and helps me forget how schools screw all that up. When it's about the kids and not at all about the admins or politicians, it mostly just works.