"Superman" Documentary Draws Praise, Controversy

Education Week (8/30, Aarons) reported, "Well in advance of its official release, the education film 'Waiting For 'Superman' has attracted a level of attention that could make it one of the year's most-watched documentaries-and one of the most controversial among educators, some of whom question its depictions of the American school system and how to improve it." According to Education Week, some educators "see the film as cheerleading for charter schools and putting teachers' unions in an unfairly negative light. Its descriptions of teacher tenure have been criticized by teacher bloggers and others, as has the fact the students featured are looking toward nontraditional public schools as the cure for their education ills." NEA Executive Director John I. Wilson said that the movie was inspiring, but added that "when you give the impression that charter schools are the panacea for allowing kids to escape from public schools, I think that's unfair."