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Teachers is a 1984 American satirical comedy-drama film, directed by Arthur Hiller and written by W. R. McKinney. The movie stars Nick Nolte as Alex Jurel, a high school teacher who is jaded and disillusioned with the education system, JoBeth Williams as Lisa Hammond, a new teacher who is passionate about teaching, and Judd Hirsch as Roger Rubell, the eccentric, idealistic vice principal. The film follows a series of events that take place at a run-down inner-city high school.

Set in the fictional JFK High School, Teachers explores the themes of education, bureaucracy, politics, and social issues affecting schools. The movie opens with an introduction to the main characters and their attitudes towards their work. Jurel, who has been working at the school for years, is shown to be bored and disinterested in teaching. He spends his days drinking and reading newspapers in class, while students do what they want. Hammond, on the other hand, is excited to start her new job and is determined to make a positive impact on her students' lives. Rubell is a quirky, politically active vice principal who is always looking for ways to improve the school's environment.

As the story unfolds, a series of events takes place that exposes the systemic problems in the school. The first significant event is the discovery that one of the students is illiterate, despite having been passed from grade to grade. The revelation triggers a chain of events that leads to an investigation of the school's grading policy. Furthermore, students' behavior spirals out of control, and violence increases in the school. Jurel is accused of sleeping with a student, which leads to a public hearing and puts the school's reputation in jeopardy. All of these issues lead to a culmination of events that test the teachers' commitment to their students, their own beliefs about teaching, and their willingness to fight against the system.

Throughout the movie, the teachers wrestle with teaching the students, trying to understand how they can connect with their students and bring them the education they deserve. They confront obstacles put in place by the institutionalization of teaching, such as the emphasis on test scores, the lack of attention given to each student's unique strengths, and the school bureaucracy.

The movie's humor is essential to its story, providing levity to the heavy themes it tackles. The teachers use absurd methods to engage students, such as primate research studies in science class to make learning more interesting. Jurel's cynicism brings a dry wit to the story. He brings a layer of humor and irony amid the chaos of the school.

The film's strength lies in its ability to convey a sense of balance between the highs and lows of the education system. It shows the struggles and the hope, the apathy and the passion. The movie highlights the importance of education, and the significance of providing a nurturing environment to students. It also demonstrates the importance of dedicated teachers who fight for the system to change.

The film's cast delivers strong performances. JoBeth Williams brings a sense of sincerity to her character, portraying Lisa's immense love for teaching and her desire to make a difference. Nick Nolte delivers a convincing performance as the disillusioned teacher, who ultimately realizes his calling as a teacher. Judd Hirsch brings a quirky liveliness to the movie, portraying Rubell's determination to make the school better.

In conclusion, Teachers is a thought-provoking film that sheds light on the issues plaguing the education system. The movie brings humor to the bleak reality of the school environment, conveying the importance of teachers who care about their students' education. It is a reminder of the significant role teachers play in shaping the future of our society. Anyone interested in education and the issues affecting it will enjoy watching Teachers.

Teachers is a 1984 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 39.