Extra Credit - "The Class"

From the beginning of this movie, I could already tell who the trouble makers were, and who was leading that role, just like in the other "teacher-movies." And so I interpreted it as the bad ass kid changing in the end. I was entirely wrong. Souleymane, the trouble maker had been labeled as the teen causing many of the problems teacher's had issues with and also had the potential to be a good student but lacked confidence to change it and more then likely felt comfortable as who he was labeled as. I do not hold the teacher responsible for Souleymane's expulsion but not to shy away from the fact that it was the teacher's fault that prompt the dramatic scene to happen causing harm to one of the students. If Souleymane made his choice not to act up and create a much bigger issue that did not concern him as much, he would not have been in the type of predicament he put himself into. But I'm torn because Souleymane has always been like this, and trying to change in an instant is hard. At one part it looked like Souleymane was making a difference for himself when he participated in the "Self-Portrait" homework and because it was so good, it was praised by the teacher and students, and his eyes lit up.

This also goes for the other 14 and 15 year old's who were in that class making and being responsible for their own choices. For instance Khoumba's confrontation with the teacher, being rude and non-respective of the teachers' rules lead to her being held after class and then after apologizing, yell to teacher "I didn't mean it." Which in fact made the teacher unhappy but Khoumba sensing what she did was wrong, wrote to teacher explaining how she felt in a much mature manner and the struggle between her and the teacher ended. If Souleymane could only sense what he was doing was wrong, it would have made a difference, but to have already for a period of time, be labeled as what you are and then feel comfortable as the role, in reality is difficult to change. I also believe that the teachers expected to highly of their students to be these amazing wonderful students and when they found hope in one of them (the only Asian) they expected the others to be like that as well. And the teachers questioned the other students as to why it was so hard for them to be like the model student? Basically if someone who is around your same age and can probably easily relate to you, both of the two should be able to mirror each other. Which in fact doesn't happen and that is why only Wei was praised by the teachers. What was even more interesting was how much they cared about their model student and goes as far to hold a meeting to figure how they would raise money for Wei's mother to get a lawyer to not get deported back to China.

As for the teacher being morally responsible for finding solutions to school issues that he lead his class through, yes and no. Yes, because he should know that the solutions he chooses should affect all the kids and not leave out some here and there. No, because how would you know how each kid would react to the solution if each and every individual is different from the other. Did he make good solution though? No. He chose to talk about Souleymane in the meeting where class Representatives were present which lead to Souleymane realizing where he stood in school. The harsh reality. And then the build up to the dramatic scene that caused one of the schools biggest issue. Expelling students.