An intense movie

If there was a reason not to choose teaching as a career this movie provides a compelling arguement. It is an intense movie about inner city schools and the teachers who deal with gang mentality students. The movie takes you to the edge of reality of one teacher who tries to make a "difference". Mr. Garfield (Jackson) is a substitute teacher who accepts an assignment to teach in an LA inner city school. He has been teaching in a New York City school and was assalted by a student. He figures LA might be a positive change from NY. He was wrong. Things go from bad worse when he has his first interaction with Cesar the local hood who happens to be in his class. Cesar has no intention of learning anything and will do whatever it takes to show his "macho" image. Cesar is a local hood who can't read but he knows about power and has grown up mean in the streets of his LA neighborhood.
At first Garfield does his best to show his authority in the classroom but Cesar is not impressed and has no respect for him. Then Garfield decides to visit Cesar's home and meet his mother. Cesar again is not impressed and when Garfield extends his hand Cesar spits in it. Then the movie takes an unexpected detour and the students that had been antagonizing Garfield (Cesar, et al) come up dead or seriously injured (i.e. Cesar has half of his right middle finger removed).
187 is the code for homicide. 187 is an unfortunate reality for many students in LA inner city schools. And you'll have to see the movie to watch the ending.