Hard Times at Douglass High

McDermott · #1 06-19-2008, 07:07 PM

Last minute plug: Some of you may have heard me mention that a film crew from HBO documented the '04-'05 school year at Douglass. The documentary, Hard Times at Douglass High, will be airing at the Silverdocs festival tomorrow at 2pm. The festival's sponsored by AFI and the Discovery Channel.

I'm not sure what to expect, but if you've got the opportunity to play hooky from work, I have a feeling you'll be rewarded with a pretty frank glimpse into the day-to-day world of a troubled school in Baltimore City.

OK, not exactly the best advertisement for taking a Friday off.

Baltimatt · #2 06-19-2008, 08:11 PM

Thanks for the heads up, McDermott. Are you going to see it, or have you seen it? Are you in it?

I've been in a school where kids are just walking in and out of class. Summer school at Douglass in 2006 got off to a slow start, with not enough teachers.

Kemmer · #3 06-19-2008, 08:50 PM

Wish I could... maybe it'll be on DVD one day.

I hope they interviewed some alumni. Douglass High gave the world some fine graduates, back in the day.

Some days, I just wanna sit in a corner and cry.

sonofboh · #4 06-20-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McDermott

Last minute plug: Some of you may have heard me mention that a film crew from HBO documented the '04-'05 school year at Douglass. The documentary, Hard Times at Douglass High, will be airing at the Silverdocs festival tomorrow at 2pm. The festival's sponsored by AFI and the Discovery Channel.

I'm not sure what to expect, but if you've got the opportunity to play hooky from work, I have a feeling you'll be rewarded with a pretty frank glimpse into the day-to-day world of a troubled school in Baltimore City.

OK, not exactly the best advertisement for taking a Friday off.

i'll catch it when its on hbo

McDermott · #5 06-20-2008, 08:09 PM

Saw the film this evening. It was bitter sweet closure; I was glad to be able to see my kids the way they were back then as opposed to the way they may be now. Had a chance to reconnect with old friends at the after party too, which was a nice little reunion.

Matt: I was in it, but lucky for everyone, I'm out of the doc by half-way through--I left in the middle of the year.

Boh: The director told me it'd be airing on HBO this Monday. Should be available on HBO On Demand if you miss it though.

I thought it was a great film. A little harsh for some folks' taste, but much more balanced than most docs you'll see nowadays, a la Michael Moore. It's not forwarding an agenda as much as it's capturing an unpolished view and sharing with audiences. I enjoyed it immensely.

fromTS · #6 06-20-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McDermott

Last minute plug: Some of you may have heard me mention that a film crew from HBO documented the '04-'05 school year at Douglass. The documentary, Hard Times at Douglass High, will be airing at the Silverdocs festival tomorrow at 2pm. The festival's sponsored by AFI and the Discovery Channel.

I'm not sure what to expect, but if you've got the opportunity to play hooky from work, I have a feeling you'll be rewarded with a pretty frank glimpse into the day-to-day world of a troubled school in Baltimore City.

OK, not exactly the best advertisement for taking a Friday off.

I thought it was a documentary on the Basketball team at Douglass

McDermott · #7 06-20-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromTS

I thought it was a documentary on the Basketball team at Douglass

That's a part of it. But it's more about the entire school year, the day-to-day.

Baal · #8 06-23-2008, 09:42 PM

I watched it for about an hour or so tonight. I am recording the rest.

I saw this thread after I watched it. When I saw the original poster's name, I was like "Oh wow! Is that the McDermott who left?"

I felt for you. I don't know how you could do it. I couldn't deal with the kids nor the principal.

BBP · #9 06-23-2008, 10:20 PM

It was sad to see but like Aunt Esther said,"The Truth Shall Set You Free!!!"

pepper · #10 06-23-2008, 10:24 PM

We don't have HBO, but I read the piece in the Sun about this film. It sounds as if its very sobering. The comment from one student that said she knows no one that has a mom and dad at home says a lot.

MrsT · #11 06-23-2008, 11:32 PM

McDermott, I work with Mrs. Moore (the Chemistry teacher) at Woodlawn now. I also recognized a young lady who graduated from Woodlawn this year...very nice girl.

I felt for you...I really did

So many ironies in this documentary...so much blame on us and no responsibility on the students.

But as usual, there are moments when students shine even in a school that is "low-performing." The young man who won the JV debate...the choir performing "Messiah"--even though there were few attendees.

I wonder if Audie is still alive...

Regardless, I liked the documentary...very well done. I'm watching it on HBO West right now.

MrsT · #12 06-24-2008, 12:04 AM

Ashley, the young man who won the debate, seems to have the drive to do well in life. I also enjoyed hearing the young man who talked about how he acted in ninth grade compared to twelfth..."My gang is the band now" or something like that.

I wonder about Sharnae...when she said her uncle gave her the black eye I got so angry

I also wondered how the group in the hall could fight like that and the only grown-up who seemed to be around was the person filming

McDermott, I sort of chuckled at one of your replacements...the grad student studying to be a counselor. He said he "understands now what teachers endure." Well, duh...

McDermott · #13 06-24-2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissT

McDermott, I work with Mrs. Moore (the Chemistry teacher) at Woodlawn now. I also recognized a young lady who graduated from Woodlawn this year...very nice girl.

I felt for you...I really did

So many ironies in this documentary...so much blame on us and no responsibility on the students.

But as usual, there are moments when students shine even in a school that is "low-performing." The young man who won the JV debate...the choir performing "Messiah"--even though there were few attendees.

I wonder if Audie is still alive...

Regardless, I liked the documentary...very well done. I'm watching it on HBO West right now.

Very true. Many ironies, indeed. You grab hold of the good things when they present themselves, and you muddle through the rest. The film offered some closure for me, but also left me feeling very conflicted. It was not an easy decision to leave, and it's one that I'll continue to think about for a long time to come.

I spoke to the director on Friday. He said Audie is still around town and, according to his mother, is doing well. "Well" is a relative term for a high school drop out in Baltimore, though.

McDermott · #14 06-24-2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissT

Ashley, the young man who won the debate, seems to have the drive to do well in life. I also enjoyed hearing the young man who talked about how he acted in ninth grade compared to twelfth..."My gang is the band now" or something like that.

I wonder about Sharnae...when she said her uncle gave her the black eye I got so angry

I also wondered how the group in the hall could fight like that and the only grown-up who seemed to be around was the person filming

McDermott, I sort of chuckled at one of your replacements...the grad student studying to be a counselor. He said he "understands now what teachers endure." Well, duh...

Sharnae is doing well, from what I've heard talking to Ms. Patterson, the Recording and Media Arts instructor. She's a tough kid, and extremely tenacious.

As far as the kids in the hall fighting? Hey, that's just a normal day. Starts with clowning. Playing. And all of a sudden you've got bare knuckle brawling. No adults in the hall because class was in session at the time most likely. They were teaching. And when you've only got a few resource officers to patrol more than a dozen different hallways and stairwells, well, there's your answer.

TheIcon · #15 06-24-2008, 08:34 AM

Should have went to Poly

leon · #16 06-24-2008, 08:41 AM

Well, I was out of town and so missed this (and don't have cable either).

Is there another way I can possibly see this documentary?

Thanks!

McDermott · #17 06-24-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Well, I was out of town and so missed this (and don't have cable either).

Is there another way I can possibly see this documentary?

Thanks!

You can purchase it from HBO.com or at Amazon.

westerngal79 · #18 06-24-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kemmer

Wish I could... maybe it'll be on DVD one day.

I hope they interviewed some alumni. Douglass High gave the world some fine graduates, back in the day.

Some days, I just wanna sit in a corner and cry.

Exactly, My mother, and godmother are alums, graduated in 1956. So are many other aunts, uncles etc... They would really get sad at what has happened to a great school. They would cry. I loved going through my mom's yearbook and hear her talk about the great teachers, and the wonderful times she had there. All of her peers that I have met that are graduates have been smart, and extremely productive members of society.

Big D Mom of Three · #19 06-24-2008, 08:58 AM

My oldest son wa zoned to Douglas during that time frame. Some here may remember me posting about an incident involving my son getting banked.

Anyway--

It's back on HBO tomorrow at 11 p.m. and Thursday at 9 p.m. However, I'm sure they will show it more times than that. If you have On Demand, you should be able to watch that way also.

McDermott · #20 06-24-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheIcon

Should have went to Poly

It's funny, because that's what initially motivated me to go into teaching. When I failed to get in there, it probably also factored into my decision to leave teaching altogether.

But public education is a mess as a whole, wherever you are. We've got a perfect storm on our hands: Kids are not accountable and take no ownership of learning; couple that with the new educational equation in which the amount of responsibility teachers are given is proportional to the lack of power and authority they now have.

There are solutions, but they aren't palatable to educrats and politicians and therefore have little chance of being enacted.