-Team McKenna #AlwaysTeaching #LAUSD #EducatorsRock #ProtectPublicEducation #MathMatters 0:05 14 Kid-Friendly Movies to Help Build a Conversation About Race and Racism, Julianne Hough Looks Fierce in a Naked Dress, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. You can help us help kids by These movies about race and racism can help with that. Read more about how we rate and review. It's a fine essay and deserves a respectful. The schools demographics have shifted. And the district told him to stand down.. The made-for-TV production quality may be hard for some viewers to overlook, though. Several fights show punches, a choke hold, brandishing knives and guns. All the parts in the movie were real, everything happened, it was factual, said McKenna, who read all versions of the script. I got your helmets, I got your shoulder pads, I got your jockstrap, and you are not going to go on my field with my uniform on and not help me get this graffiti off. And we had to paint that graffiti off a number of times., McKenna continued, What really changed was the people in those houses, the mamas and grandpas, who came out and gave them lemonade and some cookies and thanked the kids. Facebook gives people the power. The idea of themovie ignitedwhen the husband-and-wife producing team of Alan Landsburg and Linda Otto came to McKenna after reading some of the dramatic accounts of what was happening at the school in the local newspapers. "What this has to do, it lets young people know how their ancestors suffered. HARD LESSONS (THE GEORGE MCKENNA STORY) is a biographical story of George McKenna's (Denzel Washington) first year as the new principal of George Washington High School in Los Angeles. The controversy over McKenna has stretched beyond the city limits, distressing black leaders around the county, with some demanding to know how the school board can justify ousting an educator respected nationally as an advocate of urban schools. It should work. The simple answer is that they were a university professor, school teacher, and two amazing parents. Rouzan, though, reluctantly agrees that Kirsts findings highlight one of the most sensitive issues in Inglewood school politics. A lot of people believed that all you needed to do was contain children rather than emancipate them. And the board was . What`s more, resentful of all those hours not devoted to her, the woman in his life (Lynn Whitfield of ''Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI'') takes a hike. Grading Inglewood Inglewood schools chief George J. McKenna was hired in 1988 to boost student performance on academic tests. Some of the most infamousgang leaders were in Kakassys classes. Their passion for community comes from their upbringings. George McKenna: Well then you come to me. Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. Labels: They created a space where black people could see themselves reflected in art and provided a platform for black artists. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. George McKenna is a terrific role model for persev Violence & Scariness A teen is shot and dies. Hedidnt have a copy of the movie until recently when he received it as a birthday present. He says: Some of the dreams at Washington Preparatory High School have come true. I raised all kinds of other children in the schools.. McKennas critics say he is a global thinker who cannot solve day-to-day problems. He claims to have the largest collection of McKenna archives, including his ticket to the movie premiere as well as teaching guides that CBS sent out to instructors throughout the countrywhen the movie aired. Dr. Both of Inglewoods high schools are run by principals who were not McKennas first choice, Rouzan said. McKenna left Washington Prep toserve as superintendent of Inglewood Unified School District until 1992, and then worked as deputy superintendent of Compton Unified until 2001 and then as assistant superintendent of Pasadena Unified until 2008. He had to paint that fence over and over again in the movie (and in reality), and finally asked the football team for help. It may not be the ideal school,'' the protagonist`s fiancee remarks at the top of ''The George McKenna Story,'' and she has a point. Joseph Fernandez, for example, became chancellor of New York City schools based on his reputation as Miamis innovative superintendent. Common Sense Media Reviewer They all look to the principal., McKenna doesnt blame recent principals for failing to keep up some of the successes he achieved at Washington High. The 1% pay cut for all employees was only one cost-saving measure to erase a $1.2-million deficit. Former Los Angeles schools chief Bill Anton was on the job 26 months before he threw in the towel, saying strife with the board and the teachers union had made it impossible for him to continue. Commentary: 40 years ago A Nation at Risk warned of a rising tide of mediocrity in US schools has anything changed? [1] It involves the events at George Washington Preparatory High School in South Los Angeles. No school has metal detectors anymore, although random wanding is still done. Year Average % Change State 1986-87 252 1991-92 259 +2.7% County 1986-87 230 1991-92 236 +2.5% Inglewood 1986-87 201 1991-92 204 +1.5%. Hes the person I want to take me into the year 2000.. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover George's connections and jobs at similar companies. If Im a voice, a powerful voice, Franklin said, then it would be wise to meet and see how we can lessen the conflict between us.. What you willand won'tfind in this movie. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. Change was not on their agenda. This sports flick is based on the events of the 1966 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship, telling the story of a white college basketball coach who introduced the first all-Black starting lineup in NCAA history. Washington High was built in 1926 in the Westmont section of unincorporated Los Angeles County. The "N" word, "hell," "dammit," and "damn." Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? All principals and assistant principals, they actually have an interview with the board. He suggested the up-and-coming actor playing Dr. Chandler for the lead role. It's impressive that everything inside is from their private collection. He points out that high school principals have the second highest divorce rate, beaten only by undercover cops. A student is asked if he's "an illegal." They're trained in creating high-quality parenting advice based on best practices in child development. Remove Ads Cast Crew Details Genres Cast Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It was important to be hard on the system, because there was an environment of uncaring. McKenna is much lighter. McKenna made students feel safe to come back where some of the countrys most notorious gangs began, Kakassy said. Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. Based on former First Lady Michelle Obama's memoir of the same name, this inspiring documentary chronicles her life from a childhood on the South Side of Chicago to becoming one of the most compelling and visible women of her time. Even now as aschool board member, McKenna said changing the system is still a challenge. McKenna has a lot of ideas about how a school should be run and what needs to be done to turn things around. So the TV movie was renamed Hard Lessons and released in theaters in 1987. If the adults around dont have sufficient commitment to let no child escape, then the situation in the schools will just get worse, McKenna warned. In the CBS-TV movie about McKennas Washington Prep days, the tall, handsome, dignified Denzel Washington portrayed the fiery principal with the gift for oratory. I dont know Jesse personally, but it was an honor to have him there, McKenna said. For me, its now.. This article related to an American TV movie is a stub. In 1989, McKenna received the Congressional Black Caucus' Chairman's Award and. GVM Consultantcy. in mathematics from Xavier University and was awarded a . He had a precise way of identifying what needed to be done and how to do it., Kakassy said the movie didnt show the whole story. But he said he hopes his position will facilitate those changes, and quickly. You can say it, but you cant draw it., McKenna insisted, The principal is the single most powerful position in public education. Biography, Celtic Park, Glasgow. [10], In August 2014, McKenna announced that he was running for the LAUSD Board of Education District 1 seat to finish Marguerite LaMotte's term as LaMotte had died in December 2013. .css-18x9tmo{background-color:#683d85;border:0.25rem solid #683d85;color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Brandon,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:0.8rem;letter-spacing:0.03rem;line-height:1;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:brandColorSecondary;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;width:auto;}.fonts-loaded .css-18x9tmo{font-size:0.75rem;line-height:xxxs;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:0.02em;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-18x9tmo{padding:0.4rem 1rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-18x9tmo{padding:0.625rem 1.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-18x9tmo{padding:0.625rem 1.25rem;}}.css-18x9tmo:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-18x9tmo:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#ffffff;}STREAM NOW. L.A. has a new answer, Epic snowpack upends rhythms of life for many species in Sierra Nevada range, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims. I was able to get kids from the local high school to get bit parts in the movie. in . Nice start to May, rain possible this weekend, Mandina's Restaurant reopens to customers after tragic shooting, CSU forecasts slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season, 'Art of the Black Experience' showcases Black artists in New Orleans, On The Road: Business is booming at It's Family Cafe in Houma. [6], In 1988, McKenna was hired to become the Inglewood Unified School District superintendent. Some things have gone backwards, its out of my control, but ultimately that school and all the schools in the district are much, much safer, McKenna said. And so, a darker actor playing the African-American principal was about the only part of the film that wasnt quite accurate. The triumph of Washington Prep can be shared by all of us.. McKennas own voice is heard at the end of the movie, as he credits the changes to the group efforts ofparents, students, staff, community and teachers. No blood or gore seen, bu, The "N" word, "hell," "dammit," and "damn." Will the war continue anyway? A. In the Hollywood version, the George J. McKenna story ended in triumph, with the hero turning a troubled inner-city school into a premier educational institution. My soul is with the classroom teacher.. What strategies that McKenna used were most effective in turning the school around? The George McKenna Story: Directed by Eric Laneuville. McKenna, a short man who looms large at the microphone, has held forth in forums ranging from ABCs Nightline to last years National League of Cities convention in New Orleans, where his speech drew raves. Strong language is rare but includes the "N" word, "dammit," and "hell." View George McKenna's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Progress has slid from the height of the McKenna era. The graduation rate has fallen below the state average to 71 percent, and only 27 percent are college ready. The year the movie came out, the actorspoke at the graduation ceremonies, and of course the kids were thrilled, McKenna said. If you want to start a dialogue about racial prejudice and dont know where to start, then these 15 family-friendly movies about race may just help you out. In 1962, he accepted a teaching position for the Los Angeles Unified School District while attending Loyola Law School, the University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Los Angeles. ''Harvard Prep School?''. Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, a longtime friend and colleague of McKenna, said: Its just nonsensical to me.. Now you're suspended for two days for threatening a teacher. That's exactly what the McKennas are doing, making space for everyone to join them on their journey of preserving culture, creating opportunities, and empowering others. Time really goes by fast, said the 75-year-old as he looked at the DVD version of the film, which has been re-titled Hard Lessons.(The movie is free online.) The Poitier movie was made in 1967. Some of the changes he made at Washington Prep were implemented at hundreds of schools throughout the nation. McKenna was born in New Orleans as a very light-skinned Creole black man. It never came, Q&A: Psychologist Deborah Offner on educators as first responders, Coliseum Street Elementary teacher named 2023 California Teacher of the Year, Commentary: Teachers are on the front lines of preserving democracy. Later, actor/rapper Ice Cube, actress and singer Teresa Graves and many pro football and basketball stars would graduate from the school. This Disney Channel Original Movie is set in 1977 and tells the true story of two girls: Mahree, the black daughter of a congressman from Washington, D.C., and Piper, a white girl from apartheid. A teen, Teens and adults smoke cigarettes. What makes him a good role model? Theyre yours, and the principal is responsible whether the grass grows. McKenna is egotistic and arrogant, said Thomasina Reed, one of the board members who voted against renewing his contract. But it was rewritten to become a more traditional story of a heroic principal fighting gang violence. At the time, moviesabout inner city schools were novel. Larry Aubry, one of the two board members who voted to renew McKennas contract, acknowledges that some consider the superintendent arrogant. Theres a big difference between blame and responsibility, he said. McKenna said he witnessed the birth of the Bloods and Crips in his school neighborhood. We wanted to open the doors, and when you do that, you bring somebody else along with you," said Beverly McKenna. No group has been as critical of McKenna as the teachers union. There are lots of positive messages about self-respect, working together as a community, the value of a good education, the need to try something rather than do nothing, and the rewards of working hard and doing your best. See production, box office & company info, Denzil Washington last t.v. Teens and adults smoke cigarettes. Kakassy recalled the unrelenting resistance by many of the teachers. movie, that starred Denzil Washington as the title role of George McKenna. No blood or gore seen, bu Sex, Romance & Nudity Adults kiss once. Thanks again to Amanda Bradshaw and KOREC Group for use of . We need to get LAUSD Board me." Black Lives Matter Los Angeles on Instagram: "If there's one place police don't belong it's in our schools. I was flattered. The Inglewood situation, though, is like that of other urban districts, where budgets are collapsing, politics are intense, and hostilities break out between board members and the superintendent they hired to save their schools. 8,091 likes, 130 comments - Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (@blmlosangeles) on Instagram: "If there's one place police don't belong it's in our schools. McKenna, a short man who looms large at the microphone, has held forth in forums ranging from ABC's "Nightline" to last year's National League of Cities convention in New Orleans, where his. And when one of the dynamite teachers he has personally hired (Barbara Townsend) organizes a city-wide Shakespeare-reading contest, he coolly disarms one of the combatants in a fight brewing outside in the yard. But he meets a lot of resistance from students and teachers alike. In a district that strivesto have zero suspensions, 26 students were suspended last year. He grew up in an area where certain social privileges or club memberships were allowed if your skin passed the paper bag test. If your skin was darker than a brown paper bag, you couldnt belong. Its not your fault that they came this way, but now theyre in front of you. THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE. All rights reserved. George McKenna: Son, don't lay that humble on me. '', Incredibly confident and upbeat, McKenna notes that his mother, also a principal, ''used to tell me that we owe our kids an education, that they`re blank pages for us to write on. There's no excuse for that. All rights reserved. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. McKennas love interest in the movie was a composite character of women long gone. On the face of it, McKennas troubles would seem a stunning personal reversal for an educator who once attracted the attention of the White House. ER 2002, 2005-16. I was very impressed with Denzel, and he talked to me about the part, McKenna related. George J. McKenna III after the county appointed a fiscal overseer because of mismanagement", "A Hero Falls From Favor: Famed Inglewood School Supt. We won't share this comment without your permission. With Denzel Washington, Lynn Whitfield, Akosua Busia, Richard Masur. The school stands as a role model for what can be done at all public schools when responsibility is taken by the professionals and the entire community. The classroom can be a place of salvation or a place of condemnation.. . This 1967 comedy tells the story of a white woman who returns from her vacation to Hawaii with some surprising news for her parents: she's engaged, and her fianc is a Black physician and medical professor she met just 10 days before. Now I'll talk to Mr. Goodman. A few scenes show the teens smoking on campus; teachers smoke in a staff meeting. He had a sense of determination, never believing something cant be done.. Elsewhere'') and written by Charles Eric Johnson, the two-hour movie (8 p.m. Tuesday on CBS-Ch. Students are skeptical, and a parent activist,Margaret Wright, warns him, I got you hired, I can get you fired., Then a promising young athlete is shot just off campus in a gang fight and dies in the principals arms. McKenna is much lighter. Inglewood well-wishers greeted him in George McKenna Fan Club T-shirts. A handshake exchange implies a drug deal among students arriving at school. Teens leer and comment at a teen girl walking by. What was obviously a long, complex quest has been sanitized and simplified to fit the usual midweek diversionary formula. "We've been collecting since we were newlyweds" says Beverly McKenna. [1] But a movie should not be about a school that works. As well as being an uplifting and inspiring story, it's an important reminder that living free from poverty and political unrest should never be taken for granted. William Jenkins, whose children attended district schools and who was on the search committee that recommended McKennas hiring, insists that there were more qualified candidates. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. With George Segal, Susan Saint James, Jack Warden, Dick Martin. McKenna, whose days as crusader principal of Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles were celebrated in a 1986 television movie, is trying to save his career as superintendent of the Inglewood schools. He's supported by an able cast of actors of all ages. Gangs formedand drugs were sold openly. ''leftovers''--is better known for its drug deals than its SAT scores. United States, 1986. "We have the actual slave irons that slaves used to wear. They blame him for not improving academic performance, although he has faced crushing problems. Directed by. Some of them now have paintings in the Smithsonian because their first showings were here and without that they would have never been started," points out Dr. McKenna. And when McKenna personally paints over gang graffiti, he finds that his car, in return, has been spray-painted, and not by Earl Scheib. [5] The school was plagued by low achievement score, high absenteeism and gang violence. At the age of twenty, he received a B.A. In 1989, McKenna received the Congressional Black Caucus' Chairman's Award and in 1997 was elected into the National . in mathematics from Xavier University and was awarded a teaching fellowship to Loyola University, where he earned an M.A. on Esplanade Ave to document the contributions of free people of color. What are his character strengths and weaknesses? The school`s absentee rate is 30 percent, with only 20 percent of the students moving on to continue their education. McKennas programs have been modeled throughout the nation. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Jan 2014 - Mar 20184 years 3 months. I have never been married, no wife, no kids, McKenna mused. Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide. 2023 The HistoryMakers. Mandatory homework is decreed, as are a dress code and a homeroom period designed to keep tight check on attendance. There they meet the Boatwright sisters, who help teach Lily all about beekeeping, as well as the many privileges of Lily's skin color. Did you know you can flag iffy content? George McKenna doesnt talk about it much, but Denzel Washington played him in a TV movie called The George McKenna Story., Fellow LA Unified school board members may occasionally rib him about it, and on a recent tour of an elementary school, Superintendent Michelle King pointed it out to impress the students.

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