DANGEROUS MINDS

“You can either choose to leave here and not graduate, or you can stay and put up with me. It may not be a choice that you like, but you do have a choice.”

Former Marine LouAnne Johnson left her nine year military career to do what she always dreamed about; becoming an English teacher. At a Northern Californian high school, however, she is put in charge of a number of inner-city teenagers who have been taught to accept failure and trust no one. Determined to give the students a chance to succeed in life, the feisty Ms. Johnson sets out to educate them, using all means possible. Defying the rules, she sets up her own curriculum, frustrated that her students, who have standardized test grades from average to excellent, have accepted they are worthless, and even bribes them to get them to learn. This is based on a true story.

What can we learn from this movie?

Think outside the box. They immediately coin the nickname "White Bread" for LouAnne, due to her race and apparent lack of authority, to which LouAnne responds by returning the next day in a leather jacket and teaching them karate.

Show empathy using themes and language that appeal to the streetwise students. 

Reward and praise students who think creatively, even if you don’t necessarily like or agree with their ideas. She also tries to motivate them by giving them all an A grade from the beginning of the year, and arguing that the only thing required of them is that they maintain it. LouAnne rewards the students liberally, using candy bars, reward incentives, and a trip to a theme park. 

Get interested in your students´ backgrounds and experiences. Particular individual students attract LouAnne's attention for their personal problems.

Caring. 
She respects the choices of all students. 
She thinks according to their points of view
She loves the students disregarding their backgrounds
She concerns their personal problems

MAIN CHARACTERS                                                                                       

Louanne Johnson

The teacher of the class
 An ex-marine

Raúl Sanchero

One of the students
Always involves in fighting and crimes

Emilio Ramírez

A disturbing student
The leader of the class

Callie Roberts

The pregnant student
Very smart in literature

Hal Griffith

Johnson’s friend
A teacher in the same school