Education Reform Takes Hollywood by Storm

Education reform has often been ignored by the political establishment and the media elite, with little focus being placed on the failures of the American education system.   Despite the neglect, an underground school choice movement that unites both Right and Left has been gaining ground over the past 20 years, scoring an increasing number of victories for education reform in many states over the past two years.  As the movement continues to gain valuable momentum, school choice advocates are beginning to gain attention from Hollywood of all places. 

Coming off the success of the documentary film “Waiting for Superman” in 2010, Hollywood looks to make another big splash this time with the major motion picture “Don’t Back Down”, starring Hollywood A-lister Maggie Gyllenhall.  According to IMDB.com the movies story line is as follows:   “Two determined mothers­, one a teacher, look to transform their children’s failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children.”  The movie, based on actual events mirrors the real life story of so many thousands of parents with children in failing schools.  The film is a nightmare scenario for the education establishment because it shows that the popular culture is beginning to side more with parents and students, rather than the bureaucracy and unions.

Bringing school choice to the big screen is a risky move for Hollywood, where anything believed to be conservative in nature is often times met with scorn and harsh remarks from the liberal base in Tinsel Town.  This movie is sure to create a fire-storm and add to the already heated debate waging between the education “cartel” and the school choice movement.  Regardless, the movie is needed today more than ever.

For years the school choice movement has been ignored, despite its success and bi-partisan nature.  The school choice movement should take pride in driving this fight to a national scale.  When movements can find a place in the cultural space, success is sure to follow.  The school choice movement would be foolish to ignore the power of this film and should embrace this with open arms.

So mark your calendars for September 28th and plan to take your friends to your local theater to see what surely will be a great film and a momentous occasion for the school choice movement. 

 

 

For more information on the movie “Won’t Back Down” Visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1870529/