Customer Reviews

The Hobart Shakespeareans [VHS]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This documentary was remarkable--moving and inspiring. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were more teachers like Rafe Asquith! Not many are willing or able to take the time out of their personal lives that he does, but it's obvious that spending those Saturdays and taking those trips with his students are more important to him than spending free time at home. It's obvious, too, that he teaches not only facts, but values and life lessons. He CARES. I just loved him.

And "guest speakers" to his classroom weren't shabby--Michael York and Ian McKellen, who said that being there made him want to cry because the students felt the same way he does about Shakespeare.

The camera work was excellent, capturing the expressions on those kids' faces--the tears, the joy, the comprehension, the pride. A scene that particularly impressed me was the one when Asquith was reading from Huckleberry Finn. The camera focused on the face of one boy and as he listened, tears rolled down his cheeks. Others, equally moved, were also shown. It's amazing that the teacher made them FEEL that story so deeply and that these ten-year-old children grasped and empathized with the Huck's inner conflict at the thought of turning in his slave friend, Jim.

Some of the Amazon reviewers of Rafe Asquith's book were critical. Some of the teachers in his own school shunned him. I'm sure it was hard for them to compete. I taught in public schools, and I can understand how they felt. In all honesty, I was not dedicated to the degree that he is. I had children of my own and could not give that kind of extra time and effort to my career even though I loved teaching. But it's still inspiring to see the true story of such a remarkable teacher, and I think anyone could learn something from his approach to teaching.

One teacher takes a group of kids from the roughest neighborhoods and not only gets them to put on a production of Hamlet each year but teaches them to learn, grow and believe in themselves, day in, day out. It isn't easy and the challenges are shown in detail but this teacher also shares his philosophy - and what a philosophy it is! He admits that he failed in his first years of teaching, watching as his former students failed in middle school.
But somehow he recreated his teaching method and, in the process, has inspired countless children, gotten actors like Ian McKellan and Michael York to visit his classroom (!) and taught children who'd had teachers give up on them that they were not doomed to failure. If more teachers were like this one, what a future generation we'd have!
Great family film....great film, period.

This PBS film should be viewed by everyone. It is motivational and inspiring. It truely defeats the "what can I do I'm only one person?" attitude. Makes you wish that all people had the same attitude as Rafe Esquith; the world would be a better place.

I am a high school English teacher. My students are always reluctant to tackle Shakespeare so I show this DVD first. I am not sure that this DVD inspires my students, but it does squelch the claim that Shakespeare is too difficult.

This DVD is extremely well produced and is very engaging.

This documentary was so inspiring that I sent it to my parents. None of us are in the education field but I just had to share it. It's what education should be, and I hope every child gets a fraction of this sort of learning, loving school environment. I can't recommend it enough.

In this enormously entertaining and moving DVD, Rafe Esquith emerges as a remarkable teacher, the rare sort who combines the ability to amuse students with the will to hold them to the highest standards. His fifth grade class at Hobart Elementrary is shown as mostly eager to rise to the challenges he poses. Such a two-way educational street leads to magical results. These include not only reading the very books (e.g. "Huck Finn," "To Kill A Mockingbird,"etc.) most students don't encounter until high school, but even putting on a Shakespeare play each year. Not surprisingly, as we learn toward the end of the DVD, many of his students in later years go on to the finest colleges and universities.

Our local chapter of the English-Speaking-Union of the US has an annual contest for high-school students who must deliver a Shakespearean soliloquy and a sonnet. This DVD shows the nuts and bolts of how such an end-point is reached. But it is not in a well-endowed Eastern high-school peopled predominantly by students with English-sounding names who can trace their heritage back to English "Public-school-educated" immigrants, as many of our local students are proud to do. It is in the Hobart public school in Los Angeles County, located not far from Watts, and filled with children whose parents were Mexican immigrants, or whose name had been originally bestowed on African slaves. Yet their inspired teacher has decided "What's in a name?" He is obsessed with the duty af a teacher to find and grow that spark of creativity which is deep in every child, and fan it with pages from the greatest of English dramatist until an all-consuming flame bursts out and ignites all within reach. He does this not only by engulfing them in the Complete Works, but by bussing them to where many of the the most splendid creations of the American mind can be seen; from Washington to South Dakota so that they can raise the context of their aspirations to the highest possible level. By becoming Shakespearians they find the "will" to answer's life's challenge:"To be or not to be?"

I've read both of Rafe Esquith's books There are no shortcuts and Teach like your hair is on fire. I was excited to find out that there was also a documentary out on him and his teaching methods and determination entitled "The Hobart Shakespeareans." Upon seeing his teaching style up close, I continue to be awed by this teacher who works 12+ hour days with students from racially mixed backgrounds in an inner city neighborhood. Yet his work pays off-his students typically score in the best 5% of students taking the SATs, and get accepted at both Ivy league and other colleges all over thw world. Rafe's students get to attend national monuments and tours of college campuses due to funds from his private, non-profit organization "Hobart Shakespeareans." At the end of every school year, his students put together a Shakespearean play in which they act, do sets for, music for, etc. It is a moving documentary of the work of the most highly decorated teacher in the history of teaching. It was wonderful to see what his students can do in and out of the classroom, and to see what Rafe seems to really be like. I am in awe of this man, and boy do I wish I had his energy.
My only fault with this documentary is that I wish the entire production of "Hamlet" by the HObart Shakespeareans had been shown as an option on the special features of this DVD. I would have really liked to have seen the entire play that the kids worked so hard on. The clips do not do it justice. That is the only reason I gave this work four stars rather than five.
This DVD will inspire anyone who works with children to push themselves more-it is amazing what one person anywhere accomplishes!

If only we had more teachers like this truly dedicated man. He has rejected many offers of a "better" position to stay in his same role at the Hobart school teaching 9- and 10-year-olds from a poor district in LA. In the year that was filmed, the kids work up and put on a performance of Hamlet - and these are kids who, when Rafe visited their families, he found that no-one even knew who Shakespeare was! The kids comment how at the beginning of the project they could not understand a word. He worked tirelessly to bring them along to the point where Sir Ian McKellen, visiting, says that they all clearly understand everything they are saying "which is not the case with all Shakespeare actors!"

But the play is really a peg on which to hang Rafe's overarching philosophy, which is one of challenge, of opening minds - trips to Washington and UCLA to light the spark of ambition, for instance. In fact, Hamlet itself does not occupy that much of the time of the film. More attention is paid to Rafe's focus on teaching the children to believe in themselves, to respect each other, to work hard. Yet he is realistic: a possibly surprising moment is when he acknowledges that yes, some children will be left behind and there is not much to be done about it. He knows his class will contain three groups: those will readily "get it," those who may or may not decide to join in, and those who he just won't be able to reach. His hope is to shift many of the second group into the first. Then, with that majority, the tone of the classroom will discourage the "non-participants" from making trouble.

The documentary focuses strongly on the positive. I'm sure there were disheartening scenes that could have been included. But the result is a really heartwarming story, wonderful to watch...and the children are adorable. Think where they come from - and next time someone talks dismissively about "inner-city kids," remember this film.

Rafe Esquith has two rules in his classroom. They are not "raise your hand to talk" or "keep your hands and feet to yourself," but, "work hard and be nice." I first heard Rafe's story on NPR when a friend emailed it to me. She loaned me her copy of The Hobart Shakespeareans, and I have since purchased several copies myself. Why several copies? Because I have loaned it or given it to other educators on several occasions. I teach pre-service teachers at the college level, and I teach classroom teachers at the graduate level, and I have not met one who did not find inspiration in this story. Rafe creates the most positive classroom environment I have ever seen. We all hear about setting "high expectations" for our students, but what good are expectations when there is no support provided? Rafe provides incredible support, but as he readily admits, he was not always this type of teacher. However, he was willing to learn from his mistakes. Rafe clearly cares very deeply about every single student. His investment of time, energy, and yes, money, is the hallmark of every excellent teacher out there (and, yes, there are many!), so it is thrilling to A) see him recognized on behalf of all excellent teachers, and B) view him as a role model for all teachers who seek to become even more effective. When you view the DVD, keep your eyes on the classroom walls. You will see pennants from top colleges and universities from around the country. My first thought was, "Oh, that's nice and encouraging," but look closer... you will see students' names and graduation dates posted under each pennant. These are Rafe's former students, and look what they have achieved! Those high expectations paid off because they also received the support necessary to succeed. Rafe takes his students on field trips to college campuses, to Washington D.C. and to Gettysburg. He instills pride in them to work hard and be responsible for themselves. He teaches them how to play baseball, how to play guitar, and how to balance a checkbook. In addition to this DVD, read his books, There Are No Shortcuts (also his class motto) and Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56. As one who loves Mark Twain and spends all of my spare time trying to help teachers to teach Mark Twain, my favorite scene in the film comes in the first ten minutes when these wonderful 5th graders are reading the famous scene from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Modern Library Classics) (chapter 31) where Huck is making his fateful decision. The students are crying and clearly distraught that Huck, who is doing such a noble deed, should be seen by society as a "bad boy," as one student puts it. Clearly, 5th grade students can handle Huck Finn when taught by a teacher who knows what he is doing. These kids read To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, and other American classics. They also know their Shakespeare as the title indicates. You will watch this over and over, and you will continually be inspired. For teachers, for parents, and for anyone who loves a real life hero.