My Favorite Five On-Screen Teachers

In honor of Ms. Rain, life-changing teacher, from the movie newly released movie Precious, here are my favorite five teachers from the movies.

5. John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) Kindergarten Cop 1990



Though a middle-aged man with a pet ferret teaching kindergarten would be rather creepy in real life, it warms the heart here.

4. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) Freedom Writers 2007



Yeah, yeah, yeah...well aware of the middle class white women superheroine who swoops into the hood to save the inner city youth issue, but she did help those kids--the ends justify the means.

3. LouAnne Johson (Michelle Pfeiffer) Dangerous Minds 1995



Ditto. Might have done it a little better than Swank.

2. John Keating (Robin Williams) Dead Poet's Society 1989



Edgy, unconventional, creative, Mr. Keating made boarding school seem like rock star camp.

1. Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) To Sir With Love 1979



Classic. Though, if you watch the movie again, any school teacher would tell you that Mr. Thackeray's class wasn't all that bad in the beginning.