180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School DVD

I showed this documentary to the parents of the girls I teach. They were heartbroken by the issues, but also motivated to get involved in their childrens social and intellectual growth. The world has changed and children are facing a host of pitfalls. The following aspects of the documentary reasonated with me: - the reality of the social and economic challenges of the children; - the lack of the love of learning; - the difficulties educators face given the misdirected aims of our educational system; - the potential for us to make some powerful gains to improve the current system. The documentary shows the hard reality. It is not pretty and it isnt just about test scores. The documentary shows that the children and the teachers are human beings, not numbers. Everyone has a story and an important journey to get an education. In addition, the documentary illuminates the question at hand, what does education mean to us?

Every now and then, a great documentary film illuminates an issue or social problem in such depth that no other media treatment of the subject could possibly provide such insight and stimulate thinking and action on the matter. 180 Days is such a film. From its opening scenes of the young, passionate, and bright-eyed Principal Minor addressing her colleagues about the challenges they face as an under-performing school, to the concluding frames when she and her teachers are packing up from a year of tragedy, triumph, and undiminished attention to the needs of students, 180 Days chronicles the dedication of teachers and administrators, the social forces which shackle their students and despite the claims of Michelle Rhee and other educrats ARE at times insurmountable, and the wonderful relationships that are forged between these students and their teachers, despite the challenges they face. There is no need to wait for Superman. 180 Days introduces us to many super teachers, administrators, and students, and the less than super administration that runs the DC Board of Education who cant sift through their mountains of data to see that test scores will never measure the success that these people have achieved! See this film and then do something about what you have witnessed!

Very well produced by Jacquie Jones. Presenting the good, the sad, and the politics. You truly feel for the students, the parents and the administration. After watching you want to get involved.

I find it very difficult to simply sit and watch TV, but this program was so fascinating that I put everything else aside for both days it was shown. I have been concerned about the state of education since I was in college in the 50s, and still not much has changed. This shows what could be done. My only confusion was over how everyone was so well-dressed, both students and parents, drove nice cars, and lived in clean apartment houses, much less being able to pay for part of college, if not all. The education part is wonderful; the financial part doesnt make sense. However, education is more important. And one more thing, sports for boys is wonderful,as is cheerleading, but what about all the other students who need to feel success and connections?

Kudos to PBS for airing this stellar production and special praise to Principal Minor and the staff of DC Met for providing a caring, loving, focused supportive environment for students who given the support showed what they were really made of and for--college material. This film is a must-see and a rebuke to all who insidiously say if not openly but by deleting funding and continuing to keep those in the inner-cities strangled in their attempts to climb up and out of God-forsaken areas that resemble World War II and worst. This film presents a step by step instructional vehicle for how hope and change can be accomplished if there is a true Will and Desire to do so in this country.

Its not often that something can break your heart and inspire you at the same time, but thats just what this film did. I was so encouraged to see children just like some of the children where I work overcoming their many adversities and to see their school making strides in the right direction. However, it was so discouraging to see that those holding the power and the much-needed funds did not take the time to assess the real-life improvements which were happening within the student body, but only considered test outcomes to determine whether or not the school had been successful in its mission to education their populace. Before students can learn successfully, so many other factors have to be in place, and it was clear the school was making great leaps towards making those factors so. Before you can run you must know how to walk and the school had so many children up and walking who were previously doomed to a life on their knees. Positive outcomes are so important, but without the work to reach them, theyre non-existent. I have no doubt that given more time and funding this school would have surpassed, not only the requirements, but expectations of those in a position of authority over the students and administration. Its a shame the rug was snatched out from under them just as their dawn was breaking, but its a real wake up call to the rest of us. What have you done for your school community lately? Please dont let it come to this, and when you see someone making a positive difference in education, let them know and then,.. offer them support. Its not just the future of the students in question -- its all of our futures. Thanks for making such an incredible film -- ALL of those involved. You are still changing the world!