MovieChat Forums > Tomorrowland (2015) Discussion > Classrooms are NOT the problem

Classrooms are NOT the problem

posted 9 years ago by schnapster31
14 replies | jump to latest

Classrooms are where minds are expanded, critical thinking encouraged, and the solutions to many of the problems this film posits are created.

To lay the blame for the main character's (who is portrayed as being rather brilliant herself) apathy on education and classrooms is not just ridiculous, but downright irresponsible.

And to be specific here, the classrooms are not portrayed in the film as being inferior or "bad" by any other standard than that they are "uninspiring" to Britt Robertson.

A person, young or old, who craves knowledge and mind-opening experiences should seek out more education, not less. Frankly, it is our American "news" media that creates the sort of nationwide apathy that the film is analyzing, through consistent demonstrations of problems without offering any solutions.

The televised "news" media is essentially the one giant classroom of the United States, and THEY are the ones failing society every day. Not the millions of hardworking teachers who, everyday, inspire countless students to learn more and achieve the truly remarkable.

But I suppose it would be more surprising to expect the owners of a "Tomorrowland" theme park and ABC News to take any different tactic (and certainly not blame themselves).

I actually like this movie for it's dedication to reigniting optimism of a bygone era. But it blames the wrong people, points the loaded gun at the hostage, not the hostage-taker.

[–] Holder_Matador 8 years ago

I don't think the classrooms are supposed to be a literal representation of our world. Remember, everyone on Earth was being affected by the machine to think negatively, thus creating a caricature of how that would be represented.

It's the simplest way to get across how the world likes to talk about bad stuff and not act to change it when telling a story about a teenager. How else would you make it apparent? They'd hardly be watching cable news, or engaging in global economics or foreign affairs.

Education is important and is making a difference. While us "old" people might lament the new world with it's apparent apathy found in our youth, they are actually making massive differences in science, technology, and even politics. If you look at countries that have lower standards of education (and significantly less access to it) the impact is obvious. Only idiots vilify teachers, and I don't think Brad Bird or Disney are.

"If God was a villain, he'd be me"

[–] justanicknamed 8 years ago

It is always how you teach. As in, I coached my son's T-ball and baseball teams, and my daughter's T-ball team. I can't tell you the number of parents who have told me that I was their child's favorite coach - and we only had one winning season.

The reason I was their favorite - because I worked with everyone. I never ripped on a child for not being any good, and I didn't kiss the azz of a child who was good.

But, that doesn't translate to the classroom very well. No, you shouldn't sh!t on kids who aren't good students, but you also shouldn't hold back children who are good students simply because it makes the bad students feel bad.

And, beyond the "don't be a bully" or stuff like that, there shouldn't be any "social justice" taught.

[–] timbob-478-937623 8 years ago

I disagree with yer assertion that children should seek out more education. I've read 1,000s of posts from whiny Liberal children all complaining of their school loans, eating Rammen noodles because they are poor, lol, so who told them to take out $85,ooo in loans before they've even earned a nickle? Answer: The Liberal Teacher's union.

You'd have to be an idiot to essentially go out and make payments on an $85,ooo BMW right out of high school. "You have to get a college education to go far in life" these young pot smoking heads full of moosh are told. Or what's the alternative? Answer: Join the military for 2 or 4 years and not only see the world but learn a skill, and have a roof over yer head, and naturally the Liberal Professors will shriek in horror about the Military without exver explaining that it's all voluntary, and only 10% of QUALIFIED soldiers go to the actual front lines, and the remainder are all in a support role.

Or learn a technical skill, or building trades, or go get a job until you've earned enough to afford a college education with out putting yourself in a massive hole. But, but, all my friends are in school, wah wah. And taking what classes? Easy A's they call them, bowling and basket weaving. Hah!

Who wants to go 48 months (gotta have their summer vacations because wah wah, I'm in 13th grade, school is so hard, wah wah). Me, I went to an Electronics School for 24 months straight after I graduated high school, all of the instructors were Lifers in the Navy, best education I ever received, not a dime in debt on the day I graduated.