This exploratory study will begin with a review of cinematic portrayals of teachers
and their situations by establishing three categories: thought-provoking stories of
teachers and students trying to overcome social barriers, entertainment first productions
with an uplifting resolution of conflict, and documentaries that track the real-life
struggles and successes of educational practitioners and their students through projectbased
training and performance. Then I will use forms of reflective practice and
discourse analysis to delve deeper into the details of teaching and context. This working
paper will conclude with some thoughts on what ‘good’ teachers do.