Our Favorite Fictional Teachers of Film & Television
It is that time of year, again… You know, back to school season! (Okay, maybe that was a little too cheerful...) But, with everything in such a precarious state right at the moment (what with a global pandemic and all), going back to school just doesn’t quite feel the same this year. Between the trepidation surrounding in-person instruction, the inevitability of school closures, the headache of hybrid classroom models, and the extreme social distancing of online learning, our definition of ‘school’ will have to change with the times. Whether you are headed back to campus or learning (and possibly teaching) from the comfort of your own living room, we have rounded up a list of some of our favorite fictional educators – teachers that we are confident would tackle the uncertainty of teaching this year with total aplomb – with the hopes that these characters will inspire you to make this the best school year possible! Remember, we are all along for this crazy ride that is 2020 together, so if you find yourself in an educational predicament, just think of your favorite teacher (fictional or otherwise), and ask yourself: “What would (insert teacher’s name here) do?” Enjoy!
Classic Teachers
Erica Stone from Teacher’s Pet (1958, dir. George Seaton)
I couldn’t have a list of favorite teachers without giving a nod to Doris Day as Erica Stone, the tenacious and spirited night school instructor, who eventually succumbs to journalist James Gannon’s (Clark Gable) mischievous charms. Teacher’s Pet is a fun romantic comedy reminiscent of the shifting tones, often wavering between seriousness and more playful moments, found in earlier “romcom” films like, It Happened One Night (1934, dir. Frank Capra, also starring Clark Gable). If you have not heard of this film before, I highly recommend it, as Day and Gable make for an interesting, yet odd, on-screen pairing. – Sarah 📝
Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) from To Sir, with Love (1967, dir. James Clavell)
While I don't condone every life lesson Thackeray (or, as his students affectionately call him, "Sir") teaches his rowdy classroom of Eastenders in their last year of school, there's no denying he's got charisma to burn. You can't help but have a crush on this man, even after watching him try to dance with the kids at the end of the film. - Bailey 💘
TV Teachers
Miss Brooks from Our Miss Brooks (1952-1956, CBS)
Constance “Connie” Brooks, portrayed by Eve Arden, is one delightfully sarcastic English teacher. As a character with an expansive reach (in her heyday), first appearing on the radio (from 1948-1957), then on TV, and then in a follow up movie (Our Miss Brooks, 1956), there is no doubt in my mind that Miss Brooks would rock this whole teaching remote thing… She would edit all the grammar in your emails and return them to you, just because she could. – Sarah 📚
George Feeny (William Daniels) from Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993-2000)
Mr. Feeny is the teacher we all wanted growing up. A sage among men, Feeny can teach you geography in one minute and mend a friendship in the next. While a no-nonsense type of fellow, he has a heart full of care and love for his students, as evidenced in the final moments of the series (one of the most touching final scenes of a TV show). - Bailey 🌎
(High School) Film Teachers
Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) from Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982, dir. Amy Heckerling)
This is not an ironic pick. If you're like me and you love structure in your education, Mr. Hand is for you. His class time is his time, not yours, and he'll publicly humiliate you and redistribute your pizza as he sees fit. The scene in which Mr. Hand goes to burnout student Spicoli's (Sean Penn) house to collect on his owed classroom time, resulting in him teaching Spicoli one-on-one and getting the information to sink in, illustrates his effectiveness and dedication to his students. - Bailey 🍕
Mr. Griffith from Easy A (2010, dir. Will Gluck)
Mr. Griffith (Thomas Haden Church) delivers one of my favorite teacher mini rants, ever. His disdain for the majority of his students is palpable: “I don't know what your generation's fascination is with documenting your every thought... but I can assure you, they're not all diamonds. "Roman is having an OK day, and bought a Coke Zero at the gas station.” ...Who gives a rat's ass?” Between the advent of Twitter, and the page to screen adaptations of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter that have gone wrong (because, honestly, that bathroom scene with Demi Moore that has absolutely nothing to do with the book), you can completely empathize with and feel this teacher’s continual pain. – Sarah 🌞
Professors
Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr. from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, dir. Steven Spielberg)
Even though we barely see the iconic and beloved archaeology professor, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), in the classroom, he has still imparted plenty of life lessons upon us viewers throughout this film franchise. Think about it, Indy inspires others with his sense of adventure, practical know-how, and shows us that there is an exciting world beyond the wall of academia, but just be sure to check your seat for snakes… – Sarah 🐍
John Keating (Robin Williams) from Dead Poets Society (1989, dir. Peter Weir)
While I love Fast Times' Mr. Hand, my favorite teacher archetype on this list couldn't be further on the other side of the pedagogical spectrum. Keating is one of the most inspirational educators in cinematic history. Hired to teach English at the rigorous prep school that he attended as a teen, Keating encourages class outside, tears up textbooks, and inspires his students to "seize the day," bringing out the inner poets in each of them. I'm still waiting for a mentor like Keating to bring out my own "barbaric yawp" or "sweaty-toothed madman." - Bailey ⚽
Animated Teachers
Professor Owl from the Disney Sing Along Songs series
Originally starring in a couple of Disney animated shorts (including Melody, 1953), Professor Owl went on to host this popular video series in the 1980s and 1990s, with each video housing a collection of songs from your favorite Disney films, complete with lyrics that allow you to sing along as you "follow the bouncing ball." In my early reading days, one of my greatest joys was finally being able to follow along with these songs, so Sing Along Songs goes hand-in-hand with education for me. Professor Owl graciously shares his spot on this list with Ludwig Von Drake and Jiminy Cricket, who later each took over as hosts. - Bailey 🎵
Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus (1994-1997, PBS)
There is no teacher quite like Miss Frizzle. This much beloved children’s book character made her debut on the small screen with a delightful animated series that aired on PBS when I was younger. For me, The Magic School Bus was right up there with Wishbone (1995-1997) when it came to essential after school TV viewing. I have many fond memories of watching this show, and waiting to see what that mysterious glint in Miss Frizzle’s eyes meant each episode, because you know when The Friz (voiced by Lily Tomlin) yells, “To the BUS,” all bets are off. – Sarah 🚍
Oddball Educators
Ms. Perky from 10 Things I Hate About You (1999, dir. Gil Junger)
The matter of fact, and erotic literature obsessed, guidance counselor of Padua High School is one of my all-time favorite educators to grace the silver screen. Allison Janney steals every single scene with her rapid-fire barbs as the inappropriate and ineffective guidance counselor, so much so that you just cannot help but love her. Keep living in your dream world Ms. Perky, but just be sure to keep any mention of “Reginald’s quivering member” off your work computer… – Sarah ☕
Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB 1997-2001, UPN 2001-2003)
Introverted school librarian by day, teacher of slayage (or 'Watcher') by night, Giles is the faculty member you want in your school when the next apocalypse hits. Not only does he have vast knowledge, and books on the occult, but his office is also about two feet from a center of mystical convergence... Just don't get on his bad side. He has crossbows in the library, and he's not afraid to use them! - Bailey 🧛
What do you think of our favorite fictional teachers? Which film & television educators do you think should be on this list? Can you still remember the name(s) of your favorite teachers from ye old school days? Share your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to check back soon for more posts, especially our discussion of The Rocky Horror Picture Show!
Wishing You a Happy, Productive,
and Safe
School Year!
Copyright © 2020 Sarah Crane & Bailey Lizotte
