Movies that Counselors Should View

Searching for movies that counselors should view makes me want to watch these movies on this cool, rainy evening!  The first movie I feel that counselors should view is "Lean on Me".  I know this movie has been around for some time but to me it is a classic.  I always loved that feeling it gave me towards the end of the movie when you start seeing lives changing and hope for the students.  The themes presented in this movie are:  abuse, neglect, poverty, violence, racial oppression, and resiliency.  The setting for this movie is a New Jersey high school. Morgan Freeman plays the new principal at the school who changes things up a bit with his tough love approach.  I feel counselors should watch the movie to be inspired by the principal's care for these students and the changes that are made in the school.   He shows the students just how important education is and also has high expectations for them.  These are students that some may educators may have just let fall through the cracks but he shows them that if they want to be successful then it is up to them.

The second movie that came to my mind is "Dangerous Minds".  This movie is another one that I always enjoyed watching because of how lives were changed in a positive way. This movie has the same themes as "Lean on Me" such as:  abuse, neglect, poverty, gangs, violence, racial oppression and resiliency.  This movie takes place in an inner-city school where a new teacher arrives to teach students who have been classified as students who do not care about school and have severe social problems. The students do give her a tough time at first but she does not quit and she ultimately gains their respect.  I believe counselors should view this movie because there are several issues addressed in it that counselors will encounter.  Some issues addressed are:  pregnancy, bullying, and a smart student who is afraid to show it.  This movie helps to inspire counselors and all educators who are working with troubled, at risk students to not give up on them.  It is easy to just give up and think you will never make a change in their life but sometimes they need to see that there is someone who will not give up on them and believes in them.