Battling Bullies: What Every Parent (and Teacher) Should Know

"Bullying is a serious problem that can dramatically affect the ability of students to progress academically and socially. A comprehensive intervention plan that involves all students, parents, and school staff is required to ensure that all students can learn in a safe and fear-free environment." -ERIC Clearinghouse This important documentary addresses the issue of bullying, a problem that can occur in all types of school settings, and at all age levels. It explores the lives of children who have been bullied at school; then offers stories of parents who have launched anti-bully campaigns in reaction to their children's tragic abuse by bullies. It also looks at how "cyber-bullying" has become the latest weapon of choice for bullies, and analyzes the impact of homophobia on bullied children. Psychology professor, Dr. Debra Pepler of York University, who developed a nationwide program to fight bullying in Canada, explains why children bully, and why bullies are at high risk for life-long problems; she also advocates schools establishing comprehensive programs to stop bullying, including children who witness bullying, but may not help the victim(s); this serious issue too needs to be addressed. Lastly, we see an actual anti-bully campaign that ranges from elementary to high school. Produced by TV Ontario. 08DR CA 60 min.

Early Childhood: Years of Promise

"Recommended. Highlights a collaborative early childcare model to illustrate characteristics of quality, such as teacher-child relationships, licensing/accreditation, special learning needs and staff development." -Natl. Parent Info Network This program draws on the efforts of neuroscientists, skilled child-care providers, nationally renowned scholars and experts, public policy makers and experienced parents to provide the vital information educators, librarians and parents require to help children grow to their fullest potential. Produced by CT PTV. 08DR CA 60 min.

Imagining the Possibilities for Public Education

"Recommended. This program centers on the need for new thinking to reform American urban public schools. It is useful as a motivational tool to encourage teachers, public school boards and the general public to develop creative ideas for improving schools." -EMRO Review Educational leaders gather at a Maxine Green conference and offer spontaneous reflections on the major challenges facing education (race, equity, overcrowding, poverty and urban despair). Produced by Hancock Productions. 07DR CA 30 min.

The Importance of Being a School Board Member

We discover how important volunteers who serve as school board members are as an important link in helping to plan the education of America's youth and ensuring them a quality education. Produced by Chip Taylor. 07DR CA 12 min.

Nobody Told Me The Road Would Be Easy

George Foster Peabody Award Winners: Carol Marin and Don Moseley "Highly Recommended. This absorbing documentary offers a year-long look at the engaging students and driven teachers at Manley Career Academy on the West Side of Chicago and provides hope a real-life counterpoint to the portrait of inner-city education." -Chicago Tribune "Highly Recommended. Showing this documentary gave a real "voice" to my suburban students, and it showed them that committed individuals like Lila Leff are able to change the world - or at least their corner of it." -Riley Love, Downers Grove High School "Highly Recommended. An intriguing, well-told storyline on subjects to which my students can easily relate. I know the images and stories will stay with them far beyond the end of our class." -Saya Hillman, Farragut High School How does an inner-city high school, located in an area beset with gangs, guns and drugs, go from sending less than 10% of its students to college to sending more than 70% in just six years? This is the true and inspirational story of how that happened. Emmy-award winning producers Carol Marin and Don Moseley took an entire year in order to tell how Dr. Katherine Flanagan, principal at the Manley Career Academy High School in Chicago, opened the doors of her school to a native New Yorker named Lila Leff, who, against the toughest of odds, together started the Umoja Student Development Corporation, to provide academic activities for students before, during and after school, as well as college and career development, to help alter the course of the lives of a majority of students who attended Manley. Hosted and reported by Ms. Marin, a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame, here we see the story of struggle and success, not only through the eyes of students, but also through the lives of Dr. Flanagan and Ms. Leff, who each had to overcome personal battles to get to where they are today. Produced by the DePaul Documentary Project. 08DR SCA 45 min.

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