Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Heroes and Myths: On Davis Guggenheim's Superman

2011; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 33; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/10714413.2011.572431

1556-3022

Tolu Olorunda,

Photography and Visual Culture

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes Norman Mailer, “Footfalls in the Crypt,” Vanity Fair (February 1992). Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=GyskeQIVFfkC&pg=PA438&lpg=PA438&dq=norman+mailer+-+oliver+stone&source=bl&ots=b_5UMwGqYJ&sig=_Yx_Tk8sXdIykyPVcXoRUtBcWBc&hl=en&ei=XS55TZiBLtCMrQHTmszYBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=norman%20mailer%20-%20oliver%20stone&f=false. As recounted on the September 20, 2010, Oprah episode which featured Bill Gates, Michelle Rhee, John Legend, and Davis Guggenheim. John Heilemann, “Schools: The Disaster Movie,” New York Magazine (September 5, 2010). Online: http://nymag.com/news/features/67966/. Ibid. MTV News, “‘Waiting For Superman’ Director Hopes Film Will Help U.S. Schools,” MTV (September 7, 2010). Online: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647260/waiting-superman-director-hopes-film-will-help-us-schools.jhtml. @katiecouric, “Davis Guggenheim: ‘A Big Believer in Unions,’” CBS (September 23, 2010). Online: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6895090n. Tavis Smiley, “Geoffrey Canada; Davis Guggenheim,” PBS (September 28, 2010). Good Morning America, “Film Exposes Public School Failures,” ABC (September 22, 2010). Op. cit., MTV News, “‘Waiting For Superman’ Director Hopes Film Will Help U.S. Schools.” Video available online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw0aBkt8CPA. Mission statement as stated on the campaign website: http://www.join1goal.org/about-1GOAL.php. Jessica Alba, “Walking the Halls for Global Education,” The Huffington Post (November 16, 2009). Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessica-alba/walking-the-halls-for-glo_b_359475.html. Jim Vallette, “Larry Summers' War Against the Earth,” International Trade Information Service (May 13, 1999). Online: http://www.counterpunch.org/summers.html. Press release which features national TV ad available online: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/tacobell/44492/. John Legend, “Wake Up! We Know How to Fix Our Schools,” The Huffington Post (October 4, 2010). Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-legend/wake-up-we-know-how-to-fi_b_748608.html. Kate Fillion, “Maclean's Interview: Roland Fryer,” Maclean's (December 8, 2008). Online: http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/12/08/macleans-interview-roland-fryer/. Stephen J. Dubner, “Toward a Unified Theory of Black America,” The New York Times Magazine (March 20, 2005). Online: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/20/magazine/20HARVARD.html?_r=1. Roland G. Fryer, Jr. and Steven D. Levitt, The Causes and Consequences of Distinctively Black Names (July 2003). Online: http://www.cramton.umd.edu/workshop/papers/fryer-levitt-distinctively-black-names.pdf. From the same September 20, 2010, Oprah show. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Gavin Off, “Some Teachers' Salaries Not Meeting State Standard,” Tulsa World (September 27, 2010). Online: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100927_11_A1_Becaus79038&archive=yes. Juan Gonzalez, “Albany Charter Cash Cow: Big Banks Making a Bundle on New Construction as Schools Bear the Cost,” New York Daily News (May 7, 2010). Online: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/05/07/2010-05-07_albany_charter_cash_cow_big_banks_making_a_bundle_on_new_construction_as_schools.html. Ibid. Ibid. Multiple Choice: Charter School Performance in 16 States, Center for Research on Education Outcomes (June 2009). Online: http://www.credo.stanford.edu/reports/MULTIPLE_CHOICE_CREDO.pdf. Ibid. Charter School Performance in Illinois, Center for Research on Education Outcomes (June 2009). Online: http://credo.stanford.edu/reports/IL_CHARTER%20SCHOOL%20REPORT_CREDO_2009.pdf. KIPP's “Commitment to Excellence” criteria available online: http://www.kipp.org/files/dmfile/KIPP_Commitment_to_Excellence_Sample.pdf. Ibid. Christine Stoneman, “New Battlegrounds,” Rethinking Schools (Volume 13, No. 1, Fall 1998). Online: http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20080513173454/http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/13_01/speced.shtml. Leigh Dingerson, “‘Narrow and Unlovely’,” Rethinking Schools (Volume 21 No. 4, Summer 2007). Online: http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20080430103711/http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/121_04/narr214.shtml. Ibid. Jeff Young, “Bill Gates Predicts Technology Will Make ‘Place-Based’ Colleges Less Important in 5 Years,” The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 9, 2010). Online: http://chronicle.com/blogPost/blogPost-content/26092/. Video footage from press conference available online: http://media.tiff.net:8080/player.aspx?video=Waiting-For-Superman-Press-Con.flv. Evan Thomas and Pat Wingert, “Why We Must Fire Bad Teachers,” Newsweek (March 06, 2010). Online: http://www.newsweek.com/2010/03/05/why-we-must-fire-bad-teachers.html. The Editors, “What's Up with All the Teacher Bashing?” Rethinking Schools (Vol. 24, No. 4, Summer 2010). Online: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/24_04/edit244.shtml. David Macaray, “The Myth of the ‘Powerful’ Teachers' Union,” CounterPunch (March 20–22, 2009). Online: http://www.counterpunch.org/macaray03202009.html. Bob Peterson, “Rethinking Teacher Unions,” Rethinking Schools (Volume 20 No. 3, Spring 2006). Online: http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090322045230/http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/20_03/unio203.shtml. Report to Congressional Requesters, District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program Operations: Additional Policies and Procedures Would Improve Internal Controls and Program, United States Government Accountability Office (November 2007). Online: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d089.pdf. Milton Friedman, “Public Schools: Make Them Private,” The Washington Post (February 19, 1995). Online: http://www.edchoice.org/The-Friedmans/The-Friedmans-on-School-Choice/Public-Schools--Make-Them-Private.aspx. Amy Goldstein, “Paige Calls NEA a ‘Terrorist’ Group,” The Washington Post (February 24, 2004). Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64712-2004Feb23. “Paige Calls Vouchers ‘Educational Emancipation,’” The Associated Press (January 28, 2004). Online: http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/01/28/paige.choice.ap/index.html. Jessica Levin, Jennifer Mulhern and Joan Schunck, Unintended Consequences: The Case for Reforming the Staffing Rules in Urban Teachers Union Contracts, The New Teacher Project (2005). Online: http://www.tntp.org/files/UnintendedConsequences.pdf. David Nakamura, “Fenty To Oust Janey Today,” The Washington Post (June 12, 2007). Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061102383.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR. Transcript of Bush's 2008 State of the Union address available online: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/us/29bushtext.html. “Schools nominee fails to validate success,” Washington Times (June 28, 2007). Online: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/jun/28/schools-nominee-fails-to-validate-success/. Admin, “‘Hope for Pope’ at Hardy Middle School,” The Fight Back (September 16, 2010). Online: http://thefightback.org/2010/09/hope-for-pope-at-hardy-middle-school/. Bill Turque, “Hardy Middle Parents, Staff Decry Replacement of Principal,” The Washington Post (December 6, 2009). Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/05/AR2009120501580.html. Ibid. Leigh Dingerson, “The Proving Grounds: School ‘Rheeform’ in Washington, D.C.,” Rethinking Schools (Fall 2010). Online: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/rheeform.shtml. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Marc Fisher, “In Search of The Real Michelle Rhee,” The Washington Post (September 27, 2009). Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092303309.html. Bill Turque and Jon Cohen, “D.C. Schools Chancellor Rhee's Approval Rating in Deep Slide,” The Washington Post (February 1, 2010). Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013102757.html. Jeff Chu, “Update: Michelle Rhee vs. the D.C. Teachers' Union,” Fast Company (February 1, 2010). Online: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/142/update-dc-report-card.html. Hannah Sampson and Cristina Silva, “Gov. Charlie Crist Vetoes Florida Teacher Pay Bill,” Miami Herald (April 15, 2010). Online: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/15/1581083/gov-charlie-crist-vetoes-teacher.html. Jennifer Medina, “Schools Plan to Pay Cash for Marks,” The New York Times (June 19, 2007). Online: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/nyregion/19schools.html?_r=1. Ericka Mellon, “Five resign in Galena Park ISD Test-Cheating Probe,” Houston Chronicle (May 25, 2010). Online: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7022100.html. Trip Gabriel, “Under Pressure, Teachers Tamper With Tests,” The New York Times (June 10, 2010). Online: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/education/11cheat.html. Sarena Goodman and Lesley Turner, Teacher Incentive Pay and Educational Outcomes: Evidence from the NYC Bonus Program, Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University (May 2010). Online: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/pepg/MeritPayPapers/goodman_turner_10-07.pdf. Steven Glazerman and Allison Seifullah, An Evaluation of the Teacher Advancement Program in Chicago: Year Two Impact Report, Mathematica Policy Research (May 17, 2010). Online: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/education/tap_yr2_rpt.pdf. Matthew G. Springer, Dale Ballou, Laura Hamilton, Vi-Nhuan Le, J. R. Lockwood, Daniel F. McCaffrey, Matthew Pepper and Brian M. Stecher, Teacher Pay for Performance Experimental Evidence from the Project on Incentives in Teaching, Project on Incentives in Teaching. Nashville, TN: National Center on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University (September 21, 2010). Online: http://www.performanceincentives.org/data/files/pages/POINT%20REPORT_9.21.10.pdf. Christina Hoag, “Rigoberto Ruelas, LAUSD Teacher Upset Over Low Ranking, Found Dead,” The Associated Press (September 27, 2010). Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/27/rigoberto-ruelas-lausd-te_n_740544.html. Charlie Rose, “A conversation about education with Geoffrey Canada,” PBS (June 22, 2004). Online: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/1384. Paul Tough, “The Harlem Project,” The New York Times (June 20, 2004). Online: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/magazine/the-harlem-project.html. Op. Cit., Heilemann, “Schools: The Disaster Movie.” Op. Cit., Smiley, “Geoffrey Canada; Davis Guggenheim,” PBS. Rachel Monahan, “Three Charter Schools Expected to Receive Millions in City Money, Education Dept. Plan Shows,” New York Daily News (February 15, 2010). Online: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/02/15/2010-02-15_charterspolitical_tiesfunding.html. From the September 24, 2010, live Oprah show. Ibid. “NBC News flew off to Finland, as Legions of Rubes Did Before,” The Daily Howler (October 1, 2010). Online: http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh100110.shtml. “Fruit of the Poisoned Tree: The Hard Rights Plan to Capture Newark NJ,” The Black Commentator (Issue Number 1, April 5, 2002). Online: http://www.blackcommentator.com/poisoned_tree.html. Councilman Cory A. Booker, “School Choice and Government Reform: Pillars of an Urban Renaissance,” Civic Bulletin (No. 25, February 2001). Online: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cb_25.htm. Op. cit., “Fruit of the Poisoned Tree.” Op. cit., “Fruit of the Poisoned Tree.” Charles Murray, “Why Charter Schools Fail the Test,” The New York Times (May 4, 2010). Online: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/opinion/05murray.html. Jim Hopkins, “Wal-Mart heirs pour riches into education reform,” USA Today (March 11, 2004). Online: http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2004-03-11-waltons_x.htm. Muriel Kane, “Detroit Schools Offer Class in How to Work at Walmart,” The Raw Story (February 12, 2010). Online: http://rawstory.com/2010/02/detroit-schools-offer-class-work-walmart/. Scott Olster, “Forget Superman, Charter Schools are Waiting for Oprah,” CNNMoney.com (September 30, 2010). Online: http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/30/news/economy/waiting_for_superman.fortune/index.htm. Ibid. Her full memo is available online: http://www.aft.org/pdfs/press/ltr_superman090810.pdf. The full letter is available online: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/opt-in/100921.shtml. Rick Ayers, “What ‘Superman’ got wrong, point by point,” The Answer Sheet (September 27, 2010). Online: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/guest-bloggers/what-superman-got-wrong-point.html. “‘Waiting for Superman’: Critics Say Much-Hyped Education Documentary Unfairly Targets Teachers Unions and Promotes Charter Schools,” Democracy Now! (October 1, 2010). Online: http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/1/waiting_for_superman_critics_say_much. Henry A. Giroux, “When Generosity Hurts: Bill Gates, Public School Teachers and the Politics of Humiliation,” Truthout (October 5, 2010). Online: http://www.truth-out.org/when-generosity-hurts-bill-gates-public-school-teachers-and-politics-humiliation63868. Yoav Gonen, “Feds to spread Harlem success,” New York Post (September 22, 2010). Online: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/feds_to_spread_harlem_success_U01Zf7spNVRxu5z3M1rnYJ. Op. cit., Heilemann, “Schools: The Disaster Movie.” “How to Fix Our Schools: A Manifesto by Joel Klein, Michelle Rhee and Other Education Leaders,” The Washington Post (October 10, 2010). Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/07/AR2010100705078.html. Henry A. Giroux, Disturbing Pleasures: Learning Popular Culture (New York: Routledge, 1994), p. 29. Ibid., p. 65. Ibid., p. 66. Ibid. Op. cit., Heilemann, “Schools: The Disaster Movie.” The Today Show, “Obama: Money Without Reform Won't Fix School System,” NBC (September 27, 2010). Online: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39378576/ns/today-parenting/. Jim Rendon, “Dan Rather: Inside Mark Cuban's Gilded Cage,” Mother Jones (March/April 2011). Online: http://motherjones.com/media/2011/02/dan-rather-reports-mark-cuban-hd-net. Azam Ahmed, “How VIPs Lobbied Schools,” Chicago Tribune (March 23, 2010). Online: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-cps-admissions-0323--20100322,0,5656688.story. Teachers for Social Justice, “Position on Renaissance 2010,” AREA Chicago (January 6, 2005). Online: http://www.areachicago.org/p/issues/issue-1/position-on-renaissance-2/. Symposium booklet available online: http://www.rsfsymposium.org/pdfs/symposium_booklet_r3.pdf. Jitu Brown, Eric Gutstein and Pauline Lipman, “Arne Duncan and the Chicago Success Story: Myth or Reality?” Rethinking Schools (Volume 23, No. 3, Spring 2009). Jesse Sharkey, “No School Left Unsold: Arne Duncan's Privatization Agenda,” CounterPunch (December 18, 2008). Online: http://www.counterpunch.org/sharkey12182008.html. Bruce A. Dixon, “Teachers File Racial Discrimination Suit Against Obama Administration's School ‘Turnaround’ Plan,” Black Agenda Report (June 17, 2009). Online: http://www.truth-out.org/061709EDA. Sam Dillon, “Race to the Top Fund,” The New York Times (August 25, 2010). Online: http://www.nytimes.com/info/race-to-the-top-fund/. Opcit., Dixon, “Teachers File Racial Discrimination Suit Against Obama Administration's School ‘Turnaround’ Plan.” Libby Quaid, “Obama: More School, Less Vacation,” The Associated Press (September 28, 2009). Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/28/obama-more-school-less-va_n_301694.html. Ibid. John Taylor Gatto, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers, 2002; 10th Anniversary Edition), p. 10. Opcit., The Today show, “Obama: Money without reform won't fix school system.” I witnessed this event in person, no less baffled than the lecturer. From school's mission statement, available online: http://www.bsu.edu/academy/about/mission.htm. Where Guggenheim failed, real educators have succeeded greatly. For thorough analysis of the daily assaults dealt upon poor youth of color by an abandoned public school system, see Our Schools Suck: Students Talk Back to a Segregated Nation on the Failures of Urban Education (New York: NYU Press, 2009). For serious look into the militarized and zero tolerance environments that mark the schools where most kids today get educated, see Christopher Robbins' Expelling Hope: The Assault on Youth and the Militarization of Schooling (New York: State University of New York Press, 2009). For exceptional report on a prison-prone culture, which refuses to stretch out its hands to those most vulnerable, see Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (New York: The New Press, 2010). For a brilliant call to action against a downward dive to insanity for a society off with its soul, see Henry Giroux's Youth in a Suspect Society: Democracy or Disposability? (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).