Inspiration

Everyone is familiar with those movies that involve a uniquely caring teacher taking on the previously insurmountable problems of an inner city high school, usually set to 80's music and involving some resistance from the bigoted administrators and worried parents. Through trial and tribulation alike these teachers fight for the education of their misunderstood but generally good-hearted and covertly ambitious students. Perhaps they learn a little something about themselves on the way. Classic examples include Edward James Olmos' moving Jaime Escalante in "Stand and Deliver" and Morgan Freeman's Joe Clark in the ever-touching "Lean on Me".

Now moviemakers of the genre have added something new: Absurd activities as a means of inspiring students to kick their heroine addiction, stop stealing, cease engaging in unprotected sex and convert their street gangs into roving bands of chess playing madrigal troupes. Yes, if only our politicians knew that the answer to our cities problems is as simple as the Salsa. Far be it for me to judge, though, if I rolled up on a group of cholos I would be delighted to give them some of my money for a raucous movement from "Ragtime".