Do these images bring any memories?Do these images bring any memories?

Dangerous MindsDangerous MindsWhen a retired U.S. Marine, LouAnne Johnson, arrives at "Parkmont High School" with poor, angry minorities from East Palo Alto, California, she finds a class of tough, street-wise kids, involved in gangs and drugs, whom Johnson quickly dubs the "rejects from hell." Her initially meek demeanour, small stature, and white skin earn her the nickname "white bread" from her students. Determined to have them trust and respect her, she quickly changes her presentation, wearing leather jackets, teaching karate to her students and cursing in the classroom. Creating her own curriculum for her "socially challenged" but otherwise extremely bright class, she starts having them read college-level texts, using Bob Dylan lyrics to teach poetry. Johnson rewards her students for hard work by giving them chocolate bars, toy prizes and trip to an amusement park. Along with helping her students with school work, she also provides emotional support to several students, including a pregnant girl, a boy who's in debt, and a teen who's caught in gang trouble. Although she intends to leave at the end of the year, the students quote the lyrics of the songs that they learned and insist that she's their "light" and refuse to let her leave. Touched, she agrees to stay.

CastMichelle Pfeiffer... Louanne Johnson... Louanne Johnson

George Dzundza... Hal Griffith... Hal Griffith

Courtney B. Vance... George Grandey... George Grandey

Beatrice Winde... Mary Benton... Mary Benton

Listen to the song Gangsta' Paradise and discuss its

content

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of deathI take a look at my life and realize there's nothing leftCause I've been blastin and laughing so long thatEven my mama thinks that my mind is gone

But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve itHe be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard ofYou better watch how you talking, and where you walkingOr you and your homies might be lined in chalk

I really hate to trip, but I gotta locAs they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, foolI'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be likeOn my knees in the nightSayin' prayers in the street light

been spending most our livesLiving in a Gangster's Paradisebeen spending most our livesLiving in a Gangster's Paradisekeep spending most our livesLiving in a Gangster's Paradisekeep spending most our livesLiving in a Gangster's Paradise

look at the situation, they got me facinI can't live a normal life, I was raised by the streetSo I gotta be down with the hood teamToo much television watchin' got me chasin dreams

I'm a educated fool, with money on my mindGot my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eyeI'm a locked-out gangsta, set-trippin bangerAnd my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool

Death ain't nothing but a heart beat awayI'm livin life do-or-die ah, what can I say?I'm twenty-three now will I live to see twenty-fo'?The way things are goin I don't know

Tell me why are we -- so blind to see That the ones we hurt -- are you and me

been spending most their livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradisebeen spending most their livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradisekeep spending most our livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradisekeep spending most our livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradise

Power and the money, money and the powerMinute after minute, hour after hourEverybody's running, but half of them ain't lookinWhat's goin on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin

They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach meIf they can't understand it, how can they reach me?I guess they can't -- I guess they won'tI guess they frontin that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool

thave been spending most their livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradisethave been spending most their livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradisewe keep spending most our livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradisewe keep spending most our livesLiving in the Gangster's Paradise

Tell me why are we -- so blind to seeThat the ones we hurt -- are you and meTell me why are we -- so blind to seeThat the ones we hurt -- are you and me

Tell me why are we -- so blind to seeThat the ones we hurt -- are you and meTell me why are we -- so blind to seeThat the ones we hurt -- are you and meah ah ah ah ah ah

What issue is present in the song?What issue is present in the song?

Let's watch Let's watch some some

scenes of scenes of the movie. the movie.

Enjoy!Enjoy!

Describe the kind of student who Describe the kind of student who attends Parkmont High School.attends Parkmont High School.

How would you describe Lou Anne How would you describe Lou Anne Johnson?Johnson?

Does she change after her first Does she change after her first class? How?class? How?

Which are the threats she has to Which are the threats she has to fight against?fight against?

Does she win all of her students’ Does she win all of her students’ hearts and minds? How?hearts and minds? How?

This movie brings about the question...

Is violence present in our

schools?

What's violence?

Mild Extreme

I--------x-----------x----------x---------x-----------x------------IBullying Verbal Threats Fights Robbery Rape Homicide

Teasing Weapons

Violence can range from mild to extremeAny amount of violence is unacceptable in schools

What are the factors?Poor parenting: abuse and neglect and family violence Lack of supervisionHigh exposure to media violenceDrug and alcohol abuseDepressionLack of academic success and school bondingBullying and teasingAlienationInstability of environment

The perpetrators: who commits the crimes?

There are two types of violence committed by perpetrators in schools:

- Violence by trespassers

- Violence by enrolled students

What causes a student to behave violently?

An accidental bumpTo think someone is weak or a nerdDislike for a personGossipPeer pressureDating violenceFeeling disrespected

Let's do some research on the issue

In groups read ‘The Real Victims’ by Albert Shanker and underline the

phrases that you found particularly striking or simply called your attention.

Analize Essay StructureWhere is the introduction? What is Shanker’s statement of the problem?What support does he provide regarding school violence? Underline support in text.What support does the author give regarding disruption? Underline support in text.What reason does Albert Shanker provide to claim that the problem is not solved? Where is the rebuttal of the expert’s view?

Fill out the table with lexical items, such as nouns, adjectives, verbs + prepositions that

refer to violence

NounsNouns AdjectivesAdjectives Verbs + Verbs + prepositionsprepositions

Read the following texts and make a glossary

that will help you to write an argumentative

essay on the issue

It's your turn now :-)In this class you have become aware

of the violence many children and adolescents are subjected to at school.

As a future EFL teacher write an individual essay arguing whether English can or can not be used to fight against violence in Mendocinian schools and support your stance.

Word limit: 1000

Font: Times New Roman 12, double space.

Deadline: April 18th