Two upcoming events will be of interest to area educators. On Tuesday, March 27th, a partnership of several Kentucky groups will sponsor a screening of the feature-length documentary film, American Teacher, at Bowling Green Junior High School. Then on Thursday, March 29th, WKU, GRREC, and the law firm of English, Lucas, Priest, & Owsley will sponor the 8th Annual School Law Institute at the Sloan Convention Center.
American Teacher, a film directed by Vanessa Roth and narrated by actor Matt Doman, examines the difficult working conditions of public school teachers, focusing on the real stories of a select group of teachers in a variety of school settings. This screening at BGJHS is sponsored by several educator professional organizations including the Kentucky Education Association and the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, along with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and other groups. The screening will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Here is an official trailer from the movie:
I have not seen American Teacher myself. I am frankly a bit skeptical based on the trailer and reviews I perused online. The overwhelming theme of the movie appears to be that teachers should be paid more money, and while I have no argument with that thesis, for a variety of reasons I think the American public wants to hear that plea alongside other, more specific and sweeping recommendations for how we can improve education.
Nevertheless, based on the impressive array of sponsors and just out of curiosity, I plan to attend and encourage others to do so as well. While admission is free, organizers would like attendees to register in advance.
Later the same week, the 8th Annual School Law Institute will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Sloan Convention Center. I have attended this highly-regarded conference in the past and have found it extremely informative, especially for practicing and aspiring school administrators. Topics this year include the following:
- Teacher discipline and the Americans with Disabilities Act
- The impact of past tribunal decisions on school administrators
- The effect of recent revisions to Federal Education Right to Privacy Act
- A review of special education legal developments over the last year
Email me for a flyer of the event (gary.houchens@wku.edu) or contact Beth Beckham at GRREC for more information or to register (beth.beckham@grrec.ky.gov). Cost is $50 and includes lunch.
Space is limited at both events so register in advance.
Comments