Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, September 27, 2010

‘Waiting for Superman’s’ half-truths and heroes can move you to tears | Thoughts on Public Education

‘Waiting for Superman’s’ half-truths and heroes can move you to tears | Thoughts on Public Education

‘Waiting for Superman’s’ half-truths and heroes can move you to tears

By Charles Taylor Kerchner

Waiting for Superman, the Davis Guggenheim documentary about public education, is headed for the theaters with more hype and about as much substance as a B-grade Western.

As in the B-grade Western there are villains, heroines, simplistic truths, and a pull at your heartstrings.

The plot line of Superman follows five children and their families from New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley as they — like thousands every year — go through school choice lottery programs, hoping to get into the school they want. There’s joy