A film about life, lies and about how a teacher is full of will for his students, that is, what every teacher has, the passion to teach. But then there is one failure that the professor, Mr. Hundert, cannot undo even at the very beginning – when Sedgewick became his student. One mistake of Mr. Hundert here is that although he believed that this pertinent student has more potential to open (which is good) but he solely focused on him and forgot the others. His eyes were blinded with the thought that he could mold Sedgewick into becoming a better person and a fruitful future is ahead of this kid. He may be right on this, but he came to a point where he stepped out of his league and favored this student when another one should be more rightful for that position, I am pertaining on the third slot for Mr. Julius Caesar contest.
The story ran around with the school’s motto, the end depends upon the beginning. Where does a young child starts learning? It is at home, with his parents and guardian where they learn to trust a person and walks with his parents supporting him, guiding him in every failed step and praising him with every milestone he accomplished. Although Mr. Hundert’s strong will to change Sedgewick to a better student were not that strongly emphasized, there was this one occasion that struck me where Mr. Hundert and Senator Bell was having a conversation where the latter firmly pointed out that the teacher should just merely teach his son his timetables. The moment I heard the father said it, I immediately contest it and agree to Mr. Hundert. But as the story goes, I also learned that Mr. Bell is correct and I will elaborate on this. Yes, it is the parents that should mold their children. The parents are the first teachers for these youngsters when still at home. But the child’s environment, friends, enemies, even pets and their first decision making in life help them to become what they will be in their future. School teachers do not only teach students things they needed to know. They also help these students to become who and what they want to be when they grow up. Their eyes are exposed to their resources and interests. That’s why elementary school years are composed of different subjects, it is not just so students will learn their basics but so as they will also know if these particular subject matter is what they want to pursue in the future. Teachers replace the role of the parents when a child goes in to his school years. Teachers teach him the basic and theories of life and help him apply it in his life, that’s why teachers are called mentors. But still, I agree that it is the parents’ responsibility and accountability for their child’s character because it is in the home that a child starts to learn his personality and what he learned from here, he will brought it until his adulthood, be it unconsciously. He already has his own traits when entering school and this is just enhanced.
This story had a bit surprising ending, wherein most movies like this would usually have an ending that the careless student will grow up to be a better person. It only emphasized the motto, end depends upon the beginning. Sedgewick was obviously raised in a family with a deceitful environment, and he as a kid was not that motivated by his primary caregiver, his parents. He was not motivated to accept failure as a motivation to keep on trying again, rather his father rigidly inculcated to him to be perfect and not a waste. Sedgewick grew up fearing his father in a way that he was not supposed to fail him because if he will, he would be again be rejected. He was in the verge to prove to his father and for himself to that he could excel from others, even if gaining this could mean cheating. That does not matter to him if it is a wrongful act, it was not emphasized to him its consequence. And as I quote, "Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but STUPID lasts forever." This had been very true with Sedgewick throughout the story, although he had the opportunity to learn the moral lesson, the personality he had from his home was still brought out to his adult life and with this, stupidity comes to him and lasts his lifetime.
There is something to thank to Mr. Hundert for changing Sedgewick to a supposed better person. But the professor missed to show fully to this student the idea of the consequences for a wrong action. This was not seen by Sedgewick because he is overwhelmed by his newly discovered potentials. He did not see a wrong means for a good result would still be wrong. He was blinded with the pleasure that this result brings to him. He is more of a here and now thinking, and receives gratification if he succeeds to his purpose even when he did that deceiving others. Well, both the student and teacher lied. Sedgewick cheated on the contest and Mr. Hundert tolerated it by not telling the truth to others. The big difference here is much to do with their character and upbringing, Sedgewick did it years later in the repeated contest. As for Mr. Hundert, he did not exposed his student, probably because the latter will still not learn from it, instead he submitted himself to admitting his mistake to the other person involve, which is Martin, the rightful person to have been one of the competitor of the contest. With a good upbringing from his early years, this revelation was eagerly accepted by Martin. Here, the teacher realized that he still has his other students, that they really learned their successful years with him.
Back to the line Mr. Hundert told the class early on the story, Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. He followed this as how will one be remembered with his contribution. A teacher is a person that can merely leave no physical contribution during his life. His job is to teach his students and so this student will learn and pass their school years. Then these students will graduate and will continue their own life. As for the teacher, he will continue his duty, that year by year he teaches a new batch of students. What will be the specific contribution of that teacher, there was no new things invented nor new theories made. He could retire and pass this life without anything to leave here. Is that really it? For the fact, we know that one of the best people in this world are teachers. There was one moral story I remember from it. Three men, lawyer, police and a teacher, had died and went to the gate of heaven and met St Peter. They were asked what were their contributions on earth for him to let this man pass through the gate. The lawyer said I made laws for the people to follow and be organized. The police said, I implement the laws and put the law breakers to jail so as to fairly punish them for their wrong actions. Very well done, said St. Peter, then he turned to the teacher. I have not contributed anything for the world physically, but I am their teacher, I taught them how to be the professionals they were when they’re still alive. This story may be so short but has a deep and complex context. One of my dear teachers during my elementary years told us that one of the priced moments is to see her students graduate and see her years later to who they have become. This could mean that she too will grow old but she will see how these students have done with their life. It means a lot to her that she had shared her part of her life to her students and contribute to their success, in whatever form. The prized possessions of a teacher is not their degree nor their PhDs, but their students who grew up to be the professionals with just acts these teachers had hoped for them.
The film, I can say, is so full of things to learn. One could reflect on some situations and apply it to events in their life. Yes I’m aware that committing mistakes, be it in the form of white lies or to the extent of cheating or other grave offense, is an immoral and unlawful act. But why does still everyone do it. No one is excused, for being a human, to be alright to commit sins. We could be blinded by our id and commit these sins but that’s why superego is just behind to let us realize what have we done. I am no near perfect, got a lot of flaws and not that really intelligent. I commit mistakes, some may be big ones, but as much as possible I see to it that somehow I learn from those mistakes. I learned a lot with this film, although I am really aware with these already but this had been a defining moment, a means to let me be more aware of my actions. I may not be able to apply it all but at least I am aware of it and when situation calls I can come up with the suitable verdict for it.
