ABOUT THE MOVIE

BEYOND THE BLACKBOARD is a hallmark Hall of Fame original movie starring Emily Vancamp and Treat Williams . It is based on the memoir of Stacey Bess titled Nobody Don’t Love Nobody.

ABOUT THE MOVIEBeyond the Blackboard

Written by Camille ThomassonDirected by Jeff BlecknerStarring Emily VanCamp

Timothy BusfieldSteve TalleyTreat WilliamsIsabella Acres

Country of origin United StatesOriginallanguage(s) English

ProductionProducer(s) Brent Shields & Gerald R. MolenRunning time 100 minutesProductioncompany(s) Hallmark Hall of Fame

ReleaseOriginal network CBSOriginal release •April 24, 2011

ChronologyPreceded by The Lost ValentineFollowed by Have a Little Faith

STACEY BESS

author and educatorhas a BA in elementary education in the University of Utah.awards:

- Jefferson Award for Greatest Publicby Someone 35 Years or Younger- Delta Kappa Gamma Educator’s Award- Rescuer of Humanity from Project Love-Distinguished Woman of the Year from the American Association of University of Women

CHARACTERSSTACEY BESS- a 24-year-old fresh graduate teacher of

Salt Lake CityGREG BESS- husband of Stacey BessSchool District HR- the one who interviewed Stacey

BessMARIA- sixth grader who wants to be a teacher too

but experiencing many challengesDANA- a curly little girl who finds her self-esteem with

the help of StaceyDANNY- one of the class leaders and Stacey knew that

he had lots of potential.

MOVIE SUMMARY

The movie started when by introducing the character of Stacey Bess, a 24-year-old fresh graduate teacher, who dreamed to be a teacher since she was a child. At the age of 16, she became pregnant and drops out of school. Then, she married Greg and still continued her studies for the following years until she graduated in college.

MOVIE SUMMARY

Stacey was interviewed by the head of human resources for the Salt Lake City Schools. The head assigned her to a school for the homeless children. On her first day of teaching, she was so excited but got dismayed when she got into the place. It was warehouse that is used to be the temporary shelter of the families living there.

MOVIE SUMMARYWell, it was worst than she could imagined. She could not figure out if it is a school or not for it has no principal so you could do whatever your strategies are. No wonder why they call it- “A School with No Name”. Their classroom is messy and scattered with no desks and textbooks which a real school have. Every time a train would pass by, everything quakes and rats started to come out from the holes of the floor.

MOVIE SUMMARYAt first, students are reluctant, naughty,

disobedient and some are distracted because of hunger. While, their parents are not supportive in when it comes to the education of their children. But as the movie progresses, Stacey made a lot of effort not just babysitting those kids but teaching them as well. These efforts were seen by the parents, thus, they started to help in the activities of the school.

MOVIE SUMMARY

The students learn to love their teacher because they can see her dedication to teach and a heart willing to care. With the help and support of her husband, she overcomes fears and prejudice to give these children the education they deserve.

MORAL ISSUES

THE MOVIE CARRIES THE THEME OF RESPECT, PATIENCE, PASSION, AND COMPASSION. IT EMPHASIZES THE ISSUES REGARDING POVERTY, STARVATION, LACK OF SUPPORT AND SUPPPLIES AS WELL AS THE WORST SCENARIO IN THE TEACHING ENVIRONMENT.

Insights

The movie is quite good especially for those people who will be on their first time of teaching. I realized that it is much important to be prepared now for the future battlefield. Even Stacey Bess, in the movie, realized that her years in studying did not prepare her for the reality. For what she expected is to teach in a school with fully furnished classroom and complete supply of textbooks. But the reality is too far from what she expected.

InsightsIt is an inevitable possibility that I could also

experience the same way, but the question is “Am I prepared?” The movie teach me the value of patience, love, passion and compassion. If you love what you are doing, then you don’t have the reason to quit.

Definitely, teaching isn’t merely about teaching but touching lives as well. As what Stacey Bess said, “You too can make a difference in the lives of such children. You don’t need unusual skills, you don’t need special training, you just have to care.”

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Blackboard