High School shows Saving Private Ryan as WW2 education
A buddy has a kid in grade 9 at some high school here in London. As part of what passes for an education these days, they showed the movie "Saving Private Ryan" in class. That's how they get their WW2 history education. That's how they learn about what role Canada played in WW2.
I've heard him tell me they've played other hollywood movies in class for this or that reason. And this is why Ontario teachers pull in the big bux?
> I'm not seeing the problem. We saw all sorts of films in school, > many had less educational value than Saving Private Ryan.
I'm sure there are dozens of purpose-made documentaries on many social-science and history subjects that have been created over the past 30 years that have far more educational value (without the "shock and awe" attention-diverting special effects) vs the hollywood movies that the school boards and teachers seem intent on using today.
Or are you of the opinion that movies like "Grease" or "Fast and Furious" are appropriate A/V material to show in high school shop class?
I've been watching the BBC's 'The First World War' 10 part series, and it's not only very well produced but it also has brought new information to light that I had no idea about. It's well worth the time.
There's so much real footage available that showing a hollywood remake based on actual events should not occur. Oh the historical wasn't filmed in 3D, I get it now.
A good choice for a Canadian war movie would be [The Devil's Brigade]
Main character is a Canadian, Canadian soldiers shown in a relatively accurate portrayal of the the history of the Special Service Force known as the "Black Devils"
In this clip, the contrast between the well-ordered Canadian soldiers coming in with bagpipes, and the rabble mob of Yank soldiers, is instructive.
There's so much real footage available that showing a hollywood remake based on actual events should not occur. Oh the historical wasn't filmed in 3D, I get it now.
Please point out a documentary (ANY documentary) that portrays the same sense of immediacy and reality of the Normandy beach landings to students as the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan. Documentaries have great value, but they often can't make a connection to students by making it feel real like a dramatization can.
I don't think anybody who doesn't understand this should have any involvement in the education of young people.
EDIT: In relation to an earlier post, I remember watching Schindler's List in school, and that made the holocaust feel much more real to me than any documentary ever did.
One has to get the interest of the students and then the students to actively engage in discussions. Films are often a good segway into discussions.
If you want reality, why not that really devastating sniper movie ( I believe it took place in the hell hole of nazi and russian fighting in WW2.) Or am I thinking of the other movie where the russian soldiers either get one bullet or an empty rifle. The idea is to get the rifle or bullet off a dead comrade and keep going. Oh and if you refuse you get shot.
Back in 2000 in my 8th grade french class (french school, Ontario) we had to watch First Knight, in french, and it was part of our year end dissertation.
I mean yes i understand that you can take any story and find the plot and write about all the intricate sub plots and stuff, but why this movie? especially since we were already reading and watching things by Molière, Rostand and Dumas.
I more object to constantly being shown the film "Stand By Me" in school. Both in highschool and in CEGEP. I believe I was shown it three times. And I loathe that film :P
And don't forget, in ON. HS: failure is not an option...literally.
We see that in NS as well. The literacy rates coming out of HS are so low its beyond sad. The mamby pamby world we live in, from appeasing parents to the fragile psyches of kids...... Too bad it leaves many with zero future by not preparing kids for the real world. Handouts, freepasses etc in the end do more harm then good IMHO. At least they can make more kids without much difficulty.
I more object to constantly being shown the film "Stand By Me" in school. Both in highschool and in CEGEP. I believe I was shown it three times. And I loathe that film :P
Did they ever show "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz"?
A good choice for a Canadian war movie would be [The Devil's Brigade]
Main character is a Canadian, Canadian soldiers shown in a relatively accurate portrayal of the the history of the Special Service Force known as the "Black Devils"
In this clip, the contrast between the well-ordered Canadian soldiers coming in with bagpipes, and the rabble mob of Yank soldiers, is instructive.
(youtube clip)
The Devil's Brigade is a great movie but it is still an American Hollywood production and mostly starred American actors....
those kids they are fortunate to have such a realistic movie to watch about the subject.
I'm an old fart....when I was in grade 9 we learned from text books and while documentaries were available, I don't recall watching any movies on the war in class. But I could come home and watch the napalm killing in Vietnam war on the nightly news, black and white TV.
Dunno, when I was forced to watch grainy b&w footage of concentration camps, and piles of dead bodies, and people that were reduced to basically walking skeletons, and I knew that it was REAL, that left a much more intense, lasting impression on me. Same goes for watching footage of real soldiers falling on beaches in B&W vs private ryan.
I don't see a problem with it. They should also watch other war movies (Thin Red Line, Hamburger Hill, Killing Fields etc...) . Kids now are so removed from what those wars were about and the sacrifices made by people they can't comprehend anything about the wars and how quickly you can lose all rights to a government.
