Ceci M.
There are just some things that make up “arresting” television. However, that aspect of the enjoyment of a program doesn’t amount to just shoot-ups and court cases. Yet, in traditional David E. Kelley style, Boston Public turns out to be a surprise. Honestly, I thought it was going to be one of those “Ally” clones—you know the type—the ones that end up trying to deal with frustrated thirty-somethings who get a little loony in the head with delusions. Well, yes, there are characters in this program that are looney. But what this show has that Ally doesn’t is pathos and a touch of reality. Distorted reality, but that’s what makes this show interesting.
One thing that really kept me going back to this show is the fact that it is so over the top. Nearly every week, you find yourself immersed within teacher pandering, administrative shenanigans, student uprisings and topical subject-matter. Yet, every time when I thought that Winslow High would get a break, then it would plunge into another part of the school system: the constant battles between the teachers, administration and the students in a strange one-up-manship contest. After the credits rolled each week, I began to ask myself, “Would I even want to teach at this school?”
The answer would be a resounding no. For all the things that Principal Steven Harper has to go through, well, I’m surprised that he doesn’t write “I’m going to kill myself” on the blackboard. Heck, not only does he have to take pity on the sexually frustrated Vice-Principal Scott Guber who has an almost “courtly” love for Lauren Davis, the department head of Social Studies; his tough decisions continue to seem moral, but rather harsh for the lives of the students. God save anyone who puts a “Kick me!” sign on his back!
But the buck doesn’t stop there. Of course, there’s poor Mr. Milton Buttle—the English teacher who at first has a problem with getting a date, only to sleep with a student (disguised as a Harvard sophomore) and break up with the school’s administrative assistant for one week. And then, what about Lauren, a.k.a. the “Nun”, the unflappably, sensitive, Our Miss Brooks who also has to grapple with teaching about cannibalism, running from the Vice Principal in heat and then dating one of her co-workers, Harry Senate? Let’s not forget old Mr. Hand himself, Harvey Lipschultz who loses a wife, has ecstacy in his coffee and then says those things only afforded to the wisdom of age? Lest we not exclude Marilyn, who tries to downplay her looks while trying to be a “cool” teacher, yet rises to the occasion when it comes to drastic measures taken at the school.
Although the players strut and fret across the stage, then what about student super-bitch Cheryl Holt—who masquerades herself as a—pardon me—journalist, when you know that her “postings” are a little more than an obnoxious pox upon the staff of the school. So much for free speech. In “Chapter Seven”, didn’t it just warm your heart to see the little Woodward and Bernstein-in-training walk down the hall of the school giving high-fives to cheering students? Before you groan over that one, what about Ms. Dana Poole? The stereotypically “popular girl” who could easily be the leader of the “Gywnneth Club”, she finds herself teasing Harry to the point of extortion every time she is threatened with a little bit of school action. But then again, Harry—the aging,young rebel that he is—got himself into the jam. And, to his credit, he put a stop to it before the little rebel got out. Too bad for Milton. He didn’t listen to his!
Forget about wanting to work at the school. How about going there? I swear—it seems that every little offense that the students have results in the stalwart Principal Harper slapping them with either expulsion or suspension. The funny thing is the fact that both Steven and Scott’s diatribe to the students regards “citizenry” and the need for the “school to not get militaristic”. Ha. That’s a laugh. Winslow High is more a police state than George Orwell or H.G. Wells’ most horrific dystopia. When you’re about to think that the school stands for “teachers bad, students good”, then there is a speech about the honor and respect that is allotted to an educator.
Before you think that I’m a little brutal about this show, let me say a thing or two. I truly love this show. Despite all the constant hijinks that pervade the landscape of the academic institution, this show really delves into issues that need to be discussed. What Kelley’s show tries to profess is the fact that school isn’t what it used to be. In fact, school ends up being close to a microcosm of the world. Students aren’t angels. Heck, the teachers aren’t angels as well. But, what they all represent is humanity. You have to deal with the foibles of human nature to be a good teacher. And of course, all the teachers in the school have to be dedicated to try to not only corral the students from making the gravest mistakes of their lives while trying to instill the virtues of what an education can do.
This realization makes the show fun to watch and tolerable—even when it gets a little too sappy about why these teachers want to stay in such a tulmultuous hell-hole like Winslow High.
But I’m glad that not any of the characters have to deal with a head in the bag (well, maybe a foot in the locker) or delusions of dancing babies around the workplace.
“Would You Teach At This School?”©2000 by Ceci M.
If you have any comments or questions about this essay, please e-mail: cecim999@yahoo.com.