Waiting for "Superman"
- Synopsis
- Documentary examining different aspects of the American public education system. Tenure and how the system attempts to reprimand poorly performing teachers is examined. Teaching standards are criticised as there is often conflicting bureaucracy between teaching expectations at the school, state, or federal level. The film also examines teacher’s unions.
Statistical comparisons are made between the different types of primary or secondary educational institutions available: state school. private school and charter school. There are also comparisons made between schools in affluent neighbourhoods versus schools in poorer ones. Since charter schools do not operate with the same restrictions as public institutions, they are depicted as having a more experimental approach to educating students. Since many charter schools are not large enough to accept all of their applicants, the selection of students is done by lottery. The film follows several families as they attempt to gain access to prominent charter schools for their children. - Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Year of release
- 2011
- Year of production
- 2010
- Notes
- The film received the Audience Award for best documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and the Best Documentary Feature at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
- Subjects
- Education
- Keywords
- education; teaching; United States of America
Credits
- Director
- Davis Guggenheim
- Producer
- Lesley Chilcott
- Writer
- Billy Kimball; Davis Guggenheim
Distribution Formats
- Type
- DVD
- Format
- Region 1 NTSC
- Price
- $8.78
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 111 mins
- Year
- 2015
Production Company
- Name
Walden Media
Distributor
- Name
Online Schools
- Web
- http://www.onlineschools.org/ External site opens in new window
- Name
Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)
- Web
- http://www.paramountpictures.com External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 020 3184 2300
- Fax
- 020 3184 2102
- Address
- Building 5
Chiswick Park
566 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 5YF - Notes
- Formerly: CIC Video
Record Stats
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