Catherine Watson, a transplant from California, went to Wellesley College to pursue a teaching career. Her bohemian appearance instantly colliding with the conservative grays that met her at the train station. Being introduced to her future students brought a smile to her face but it was soon met with the weight of responsibility after hearing about the new rules for living at such a traditional college.
Hesitantly waiting to enter her first auditorium, you can sense of anxiety pulling through her veins. A bitter warning would preclude, "They can smell fear!" Instantly the class seems rather patronizing shouting out answers and Watson can feel the classroom steer out of her control. After learning all the students knew everything she prepared for them, the students and their wryly smiles would leave the auditorium.
After the dismal first class, the weight of failure will pile up after a bad meeting with her superiors. They would sit and tear her apart over her thesis and lack of prestige. Her other peers share with her that not all the staff wanted her at the position would add on to her feeling of isolation. Little hope would show itself in a couple of mismatch fellow teachers that reside with her.
Proving not to be shown up again by her "know-it-all" students, she would go past the syllabus. She would show a painting that will set a controversial discussion on art. They would go back and forth discussing the what makes art important. Finally, Watson feels like she sparked some interest in her pupils.
Proof of the conservative values the college holds to the utmost importance is the hasty firing of a tenure college nurse who was accused of selling contraceptives to the students. The college could not afford such a "liberal" image to the public.
Watson would try to inspire her students to pursue life outside of marriage. One of her students would confront her about a "C" she received. Watson would urge her to not only think more for herself but nudge the fact that there is life beyond marriage and that she should pursue her Law degree.
The institution would start to confront Watson over her use of too many modern art and her "unorthodox" teaching methods. This would fuel her fire to try to teach her students about thinking for themselves and to take chances and decisions even if they are not the "normal" ones.
yes, she really did have the school againest her in a sense. But, I like that you mentioned that.
ReplyDeleteO.k., good commentary, but in terms of practicing your close observation skills, I'd have liked to have seen more "real time" notes, taken as the film moved along, as opposed to a plot summary.
ReplyDelete