why was that teacher so mean to Melinda? - Speak (2004) Discussion

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] wowyouruncool 18 years ago

is this book based on Laurie Halse Anderson's "speak"

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[–] karat0315-1 18 years ago

yup

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[–] horrorshowmovie 15 years ago

he made the movie a lot less believable to me

any history teacher who lectured about immigration like that would be out on his ass in a split second. When he first started, I thought he was being a good teacher and trying to encourage kids to argue with him, but apparently he was serious

there are plenty of realistically sadistic teacher models they could have used, but this isn't one of them

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[–] KristenStewartForever 15 years ago

Totally agree. If I was her, even though I can't really get my words out, I'd tell him to go to hell and run out of the school.

No Day But Today. Today 4 U. One Song Glory.
How we gonna pay last year's RENT?!

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[–] Samuraibro 15 years ago

All the world will be your enemy, Prince With a Thousand Enemies. And whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first, they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, Prince with the swift warning. Be cunning, full of tricks, and your people shall never be destroyed.

There are those who still know- they're still home. We're still home.

You watch me, just watch me. I'm calling, I'm calling. And one day all will know...

~Proud to be a Gleek!~

La Vie Boheme!

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[–] Spooky_090 18 years ago

*Minor spoilers*

I liked how when melinda was walking away after andy attacked her, and he was like "Melinda...?" like he was scared or something. I was like "Yeah ***hole, and you've been giving her **** all year!"

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[–] TheJuJu 18 years ago

he is a xenophobe if you notice when he asks a open question he totally ignores all the black people/person who's got his hand up XxX

(Im trying to see it from your point of view, but i can't seem to get my head that far up my arse!)

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[–] jama99 13 years ago

That's not a xenophobe, that's a racist, TheJewJew.

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[–] Stacehoney72 17 years ago

I liked how when melinda was walking away after andy attacked her, and he was like "Melinda...?" like he was scared or something. I was like "Yeah ***hole, and you've been giving her **** all year!"

yeah i know what you mean, i watched the movie yesterday and i was like "that's what you get for being an ass to Melinda, now you are the one being ignored." :D

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[–] wermargaret 15 years ago

You got that right, I wish she had said something like, "WHAT THE F--K DO YOU CARE?"

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[–] MariexxCore 18 years ago

I don't think he was mean, persay. I think he was strict, very strict. He DID care in the end and yes he was pretty biased through most of the movie but he was a teacher and he became a teacher for a reason.

Personally I liked his character =] He was helping her in a different way than being all nice and nice about it.

"You'd better interest me fast. I have a short attention span."

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[–] cathyb-5 18 years ago

I agree that he wasn't so mean to her, but probably a typical high school teacher. I thought he was even being kind in letting her raise her grade but then she blows him off by not doing an oral report. I would have been mad too as a teacher...doesn't every student have to do things they don't necessarily agree with or even like?

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[–] teh_liz 18 years ago

For a girl who barely strung three words together outside of her thoughts for most of the movie and I doubt ever in that class, for her to work hard on that report and bring it in and him to just all of a sudden say, "Oh yeah, you have to do it orally"? What an arse. That couldn't have been a stipulation right off?

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[–] PurpleLemonadeDinosaur 15 years ago

Well, in a way he was trying to help her to speak. I'm diagnosed with Asperger's so every time a teacher needs someone to make a phone call to another classroom or take things to people, they usually call on me because they try to get me more social.

Don't worry be happy

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[–] KristenStewartForever 13 years ago

Entirely right! I couldn't agree more!

No Day But Today. Today 4 U. One Song Glory.
How we gonna pay last year's RENT?!

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[–] KristenStewartForever 8 years ago

Are you crazy?? He was abusive. Snatching her up and dragging her out.

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[–] Stacehoney72 18 years ago

I hated him too, he was mean to her even the first day she started school, he is just a prick. :( I had teachers like that. :(

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[–] Obligatorywit 17 years ago

He's a jerk. Simple as that.

"Pink is evil. THERE ARE MANY SHADES OF EVIL YA KNOW!"- Maria Lark

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[–] briellegurl 17 years ago

I think he's an a**hole with a heart buried in there somewhere

I like Chocolate!
I like Cheese!
=D

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[–] annieiscrazy 17 years ago

For those of you saying he wasnt mean to her, what do you consider mean, then? He sure as hell was mean to her! You didnt see him treatin the other kids that way, he got a lil upset with Dave when he went against his opinion in his class but it was nothing like he treated her. Revenge woulda been sweet & this guys case, it woulda been the whole friggin candy store.

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[–] Eighty_One_Satanic_Markings 17 years ago

In the Novel he was portrayed as a mean person. Doesn't really explain why but it could be either of his Nature or he just didn't like Sordino personally?

Some people count sheep. Doesn't work with AlwaysCool, just gets him excited.

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[–] chasman99 16 years ago

He was a jerk and self centered in his approach. He was also like many of the people in the story that ASSUMED there was something less sinister going on than a rape.

I agree that the scene after Andy attacks her again and he just says "Melinda....?" was actually very well done. It was subtle but in that one moment you kind of understood how he realized he screwed up.

I think they should have detailed the legal attacks David Patrakis brought up because that would have changed him grabbing her and dragging her to the office. Not only is he not allowed to leave his class alone but he is not allowed to touch a student. There would be a major lawsuit.

*** I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "I drank what?" ***

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[–] PimpSmackersGOM 14 years ago

I think his character was there to contrast Melinda's selective mutism. The same is true for Heather and Dave. All 3 of them were very talkative. Mr. Neck was brash and aggressive with his words and Heather was very shallow. Dave, of course, made the best use of his words the way he stood up for Melinda who couldn't speak up for herself. There is only one way to be silent but many ways to not be silent.

I agree that the scene after Andy attacks her again and he just says "Melinda....?" was actually very well done. It was subtle but in that one moment you kind of understood how he realized he screwed up.

Also notice how that was actually the very first time we hear him call her by her first name in the movie.

A superhero never reveals their true identity

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] PimpSmackersGOM 14 years ago

Mr. Neck was a jerk and a bully. But more importantly, he was wrong. And he knew he couldn't defend his position, that's why he tried to change the subject when students started questioning his comments. Dave is right, the constitution does NOT recognize different levels of citizenship based upon time spent in the country. Mr. Neck was just trying to make excuses for why his son didn't get the job he applied for, as if his son should have gotten the job by default just because his ancestors are all from the same country.

Speaking his mind doesn't make Mr. Neck xenophobic, his xenophobic beliefs make him xenophobic. And the fact that you agree with him makes you a xenophobe too.

A superhero never reveals their true identity

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[–] KristenStewartForever 8 years ago

100% agree

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[–] neeca_15 16 years ago

I haven't read the book. I didn't noticed it at first until somebody in another thread pointed out that the scene wherein Melinda was walking from the closet was the first time the teacher called her by her first name.

I think if that character really existed in real life, he would be tormented by the crap he had given Melinda all year, not knowing what happened to her and why she acted that way.

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[–] 16 years ago

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